5 meetings today

5 meetings today, and the best event is the listed race over a mile at 19.35 CET this evening´s Kempton fixture on the all-weather. Clinical (Sir Mark Prescott/ Seb Sanders) is in great form and has won listed races in 3 different countries recently (including Germany) but they were all fillies events and it will not be so easy against the colts. This is quite open and our preference is for Riggins (Ed Walker/ Jean-Pierre Guillambert), who won this (in a dead heat) last year and came back to form with a CD victory over Mull of Kullough. That one (Richard Fahey/ Tony Hamilton) can boost the form by winning at 16.15 at Lingfield this afternoon, at today´s other all-weather meeting. The most interesting events at Lingfield are the two divisions of the 2yo maiden at 13.40 and 14.10, with runners from several top stables, e.g. Cecil, Gosden, Balding, Ed Dunlop et al; with very little form to go on, these races are not good betting opportunities, but they should be watched with care.

Over jumps, it is significant that Irish trainer Charlie Byrnes has booked Tony McCoy for his two runners at Wetherby - Fists of Fury 13.55 and Sea of Thunder at 14.30; both of them have winning possibilities, but there is some tough opposition. McCoy can also win the 3yo hurdle at 15.35 on School for Scandal (Jim Best), who was quite consistent on the flat and makes his N.H. debut here. We also hope that German-bred Bocciani runs well in the handicap chase at 15.00. There is a poor card at Fontwell, where Martin Keighley and Aidan Cawley can land a double with Always Bold at 14.50 and Ukrainian Star half an hour later. In Ireland, Sunday´s abandoned N.H. meeting at Cork is now staged today. New Phase (Dermot Weld/ Robbie McNamara) is a very useful hurdler and can concede the weight to the smart, but exposed, Kempes (Willie Mullins/ David Casey) and Psycho (Tony Martin/ Ruby Walsh).

Kempton - betting forecast:
1. Race: Cliffords Reprieve - Bailadeira - Abadejo
2. Race: Nially Noo - Scarlet Rocks - Absa Lutte
3. Race: Lisahane Bog - Sand Skier - Hurricane Spirit
4. Race: Compton Bird - Hesperides - Hey Fiddle Fiddle
5. Race: Woop Woop - Layla`S King - Black Iceman
6. Race: Clinical - Riggins - Edinburgh Knight
7. Race: Sermons Mount - Abriachan - Tislaam