3 poor N.H. meetings

Back to very poor sport today, with 3 low level N.H. meetings. The going at both Hereford and Southwell is on the firm side and there are some very small fields as a result. At the latter meeting, the most interesting event could be the claiming hurdle over 3 miles at 15.15 CET, with two German-breds, Moon Melody (Mike Sowersby/ Edmond Lineham) and Kristallo (Peter Bowen/ Sam Twiston-Davies), of whom Kristallo, a son of Lando, is easily preferred. American Art (David Pipe/ Conor O´Farrell) has won his last 4 races, but has to give away a lot of weight, and best in at the weights is American Cricket (Evan Williams/ Adam Wedge).

At Hereford, we like another German-bred Double Handful (Venetia Williams /Sam Thomas); he has failed to win yet in 14 races in the U.K. but has run a couple of decent races on the flat this year and is surely capable of running well over this very low mark.

The ground is better at Carlisle, and so is the racing. Even so, form horses are few and faar between. In the handicap chase at 14.55 The Magic Bishop (Malcolm Jefferson/ Dougie Costello) is the only one with good recent form, having won a similar race at Hexham last time. Et Maintenant (Lucinda Russell/ Peter Buchanan) was well behind then, but is now 9 lbs better off and could make more of a race of it now. The best race is the graduation chase over 3 miles at 15.55.Only 6 runners, they all have some good form to recommend them. However two really stand out, the very consistent Cross Kennan (Jennie Candlish/ Anthony O´Keeffe), who has won of his 19 starts and was only 5 lengths behind Big Bucks in the Stayers Hurdle at Cheltenham, and Sarando (Paul Webber/ Wayne Kennedy), beaten only a neck by Saturday´s big Irish winner Quito de la Roche at Aintree´s Grand National meeting. Finally, our idea of the most likely German-bred winner of the day is Soprano (Jim Goldie/ Graham Le e), who has been in great form this summer and autumn, winning 2 races on the flat and 2 over jumps, including at Kelso on Saturday. If he is still in the same form, he should win the handicap chase over 3 1/4 miles at 16.30.