4 meetings today

The usual poor quality racing for a Monday today, and in addition there are some very small fields at the two British N.H. meetings, so that betting should be kept to a minimum. Tony McCoy is riding at Leicester where we expect him to land a short-priced double on Nick Gifford´s Christopher Wren at 14.20 CET and Tim Vaughan´s First Fandango at 15.50.

It could be David Pipe´s and Tom Scudamore´s turn to land a double at Plumpton, with Notus de la Tour at 14.30 -although Megastar could be a danger here in receipt of 7 lbs - and Bathwick Brave half an hour later. It is interesting to see an Irish raider in the novices handicap chase over 3 1/4 miles at 16.30 - Jim Dreaper´s Shernaz (Richie McGrath); the race is worth ls less than 2000 GBP to the winner, but on assumes the trainer is not just coming to admire the Sussex scenery.

The fields are much bigger at the Irish N.H. meeting at Limerick, but the standard is equally low. The two we like best here are Theleze (Willie Mullins/ Andrew Lynch) in the mares maiden hurdle at 14.10 and The Engineer (Jessica Harrington/ Robbie Power), who makes his jumping debut in the beginners chase at 16.15.

All 8 races on the all-weather at Wolverhampton are class 5 or 6. John Dunlop hardly ever has runners at this low level, but sends Phonic (Eddie Ahern) to contest the 2 mile handicap at 17.10; he is probably the slowest horse in the Dunlop yard, but could still win this. We also like Amazing Blue Sky (Ruth Carr/ Tom Eaves), better handicpped on the all-weather than on turf, at 16.10, and Bavarian Princess (Elaine Burke/ Martin Harley), who showed improvement to win over this CD last time, at 17.40.