No flat racing today

Autumn is here at last and from now on there are only a handful of flat races of more than minor interest, and none at all today, with jumping at Aintree, Wincanton and Galway (Ireland) monopolizing affairs. The best card is at Aintree, but the two big handicaps, over hurdles at 16.10 CET and over fences at 16.45 look particularly tricky as many runners have not been seen out since the spring.

In addition quite a few of the runners in the hurdle race have been running over fences, which makes the form even more unreliable. However we do like Fredo (Ian Williams/ Dougie Costello), who has a German pedigree, and was pulled up last time in the Scottish Grand National. Benny be Good(Keith and James Reveley) an obvious danger, as he has won his last 3 races, and was quite impressive when scoring last time (over fences) at Market Rasen, while Galaxy Rock (Jonjo O´Neill/ Tony McCoy) looks another danger with his stable in good form; he was an easy winner at the Cheltenham April meeting last time out. Aother German-bred here is Quicuyo (James Ewart/ Barry Hughes) - brother to Quijano!- who must have a good chance off a low weight in the race at 16.45. Silk Drum (Dianne Sayer/Reveley) is the class act here after his convincing win at the Grand National meeting, but has a huge weight.

At Wincanton, the handicap hurdle at 15.15 is quite open. Aine´s Delight (Andrew Turnell(/Nick Scholfield) could star favourite here; he won 3 successive races over this CD in the spring and has been placed twice on the flat since. Our preference is for Penchesco (Amanda Perrett/ Leighton Aspell), just beaten here last time by James Pollard (Barney Llewellyn/ Mr. RJ Williams), but may be able to reverse the placings this time. In our view Scholfield has a better chance on Jeremy Scott´s Gone to Lunch, who runs in the handicap chase over 3 1/2 miles at 15.50. The field includes the winner, second and fourth from last year, but at these weights we definitely prefer Gone to Lunch, who has been given a real chance by the handicapper.

There are the usual huge fields at the Irish meeting at Galway. Gordon Elliott has his string in excellent form and can land a double here with Wee Doll (Paul Carberry), an easy point-to-point winner a fortnight ago, in the mares maiden hurdle at 16.15, and Tharawaat (Davy Russell), who has top weight in the handicap chase an hour later. He was pulled up last time at the Punchestown festival, but this race - though still very tough- look a bit easier.