U.K. and Ireland today

After last week´s excellent racing at York, the sport on offer today is very feeble. The only flat racing comes from Folkestone, where the best race is the fillies handicap over 9 1/2 furlongs at 18.15 CET. Likely favourite here is the bottom weight Medaille d´Or (Roger Varian/ Jack Mitchell), an easy CD winner exactly a month ago and now 6 lbs higher. Top-weight Captivator (James Fanshawe/ Hayley Turner), winner of 2 from 3 this year, and consistent Sacred Shield (Henry Cecil/ Ian Mongan), in the money all 2011 starts and 4th against better opposition last time at Sandown, look the main dangers.

They go over jumps at Newton Abbot and Ballinrobe in Ireland, and the 2 3/4 mile listed handicap chase at 16.00 at the former track looks a pretty hot race with 15 runners. Sir Ian (Charlie Longsdon/ Felix de Giles) put up a spectacular performance last time when winning by 35 lengths, but he seems best suited by fast ground at Worcester, and this slower going and tougher track make it difficult for him to follow up. We prefer Mamlook (David Pipe/ Tom Scudamore), a classy and versatile type, who has not been out since being well beaten on the flat in the Chester Cup, a race he won last year. Paul Nicholls runs three here, and we would not be surprised to see Hoo la Baloo run well, with the useful 10 lbs claimer James Cowley aboard.

Best race at Ballinrobe is the handicap hurdle for 4yo´s at 16.20. Acapulco Gold (Paul Nolan/ Andrew McNamara) was an easy CD winner here last time and still seems well handicapped, and the same goes for Kristal Komet (Tracy Collins/ Alan Crowe), a winner on the flat last week. However our selection is top-weight Magical Memoir (Jessica Harrington/ Martin Bolger), who had no chance against the smart Muirhead last time, but has been generally acquitting himself well in better company than this.