4 N.H. meetings today

4 jumps meetings today (plus a very poor all-weather card this evening at Kempton), and the most valuable race in the U.K. is the handicap chase over 2 3/4 miles at 15.20 CET at Market Rasen. This looks very open and Daldini (Sue Smith/ Henry Oliver), put up 4 lbs for running second at Haydock last time, would be our selection, except for the fact that he would probably prefer much softer ground. Babysitter (Jonjo O´Neill/ Tony McCoy) won here in April, but was pulled up on his only start since, so we have decided to tip the consistent North Island, who has twice won over this CD. The beginners chase over the same trip at 14.50 is also interesting. McMurrough (Malcolm Jefferson( Harry Haynes) would have a definite chance on his old hurdling form, but has been off the track for 18 months. Moonlight Drive (John Quinn/ McCoy) has not run since being pulled up at the Cheltenham Festival and obviously this opposition is nowhere near as strong. Storming Gale (Donaald McCain/ Brian Harding) has also been off since the spring, so the one with the fewest questions to answer is Carpincho (Sarah Humphrey/ Aidan Coleman), a well-beaten fifth in a decent race at Chepstow last month.

Paul Nicholls is usually the trainer to follow at Wincanton, his local track, but today he only has 3 runners - and they are all in the same race. No Loose Change (Noel Fehily), Oscarslad /Ryan Mahon) and Rolling Aces (Nick Scholfield), all Irish point-to-point winners last time, are his runners in the novice hurdle at 15.10, and frankly it is impossible for an outsider to know which is the best of them. A better bet could be course specialist Heir to Be (Michael Blake/ Scholfield) in the opening handicap hurdle at 14.05.

Nicholls also has a possible winner at Hereford in Doeslessthanme (Daryl Jacob), who has top-weight in the handicap chase at 15.30 at Hereford. This ex-Howard Johnson runner was an easy winner on his only start for his new stable, but has been hit quite hard by the handicapper for that success, so is no certainty. Most of the other top jockeys are at the other meetings, so it is interesting to see Robert Thornton here and he can land a double for Alan King with Reyamour at 14.30 and Way Back When half an hour later.

There are the usual large fields at the Irish meeting at Thurles, but only 5 turn out for the novice hurdle at 15.45, which features the best horse in action at any of today´s meetings - the unbeaten Ipsos du Berlais (Noel Meade/ Davy Russell) . He was a very easy winner on his hurdles debut a fortnight ago at Down Royal and it will be a surprise if he is beaten today.