4 low-level meetings today

There is an all-hurdles card at Leicester today and Tony McCoy, with over 150 wins to his name already this season, can further increase his tally. Jonjo O´Neill´s Schism in the 3yo fillies hurdle at 14.00 CET, and Kells Belle at 15.00 as well as Zama Zama at 16.10, both trained by Nicky Henderson, should all win, as could Phoenix Flight in the novice hurdle at 16.40. The one we are dubious about is O´Neill´s Amuse Me, who has top-weight in the handicap hurdle at 15.35, as his recent efforts are all very poor. However this is a very weak race and a return to his best form would make him hard to beat.

Paul Nicholls is usually the trainer to follow at his local track Wincanton, but he has only one runner there today, so we make him the selection - the ex-French Sang Bleu (Daryl Jacob) in the beginners chase at 14.40. He has not run since falling at Cheltenham on New Years Day, but his earlier French form looks good. This is the day´s best race, and Duke of Lucca (Philip Hobbs/ Richard Johnson), Habbie Simpson (Alan King/ Robert Thornton) and Joker Choker (Nicky Henderson/ RJ Killoran) were all decent hurdlers and must be respected. The handicap hurdle here at 15.45 looks very tough, but we hope that Brunston (Henderson/ Killoran), below form when last seen at Stratford in July, can come back with a win in a very open race.

At Catterick, we expect the useful flat handicapper Crackentorp (Tim Easterby/ Richie McGrath) to get off the mark over hurdles at 14.20; he receives 7 lbs from his main rival, the recent winner Hawk Mountain (John Quinn/ Dougie Costello). The handicap chase over 3 miles 5 furlongs at 14.50 is very demanding, but Matmata de Tendron (Andy Crook/ Nathan Moscrop) could be the answer. He is slow, but stays forever and is a sound jumper although strictly speaking he is held on Carlisle form last month by Canal Bank (O´Neill/ RP McLernon). Our Columbus (Nigel and Sam Twiston-Davies) is another danger, but has been off the track since April.

All-weather racing is for the most part very uninspiring at this time of year, and we can recommend nothing in this evening´s 8 low level races at Wolverhampton.