Two poor meetings today

We are only at the very beginning of the year, but it is hard to imagine that there will be a worse day´ s racing in the U.K. in 2012 than today´s cards at Ayr and Southwell. In addition there are some very small fields, for example the first two races at Ayr where the likely odds-on favourites Cadore (Lucinda Russell/ Peter Buchanan) at 13,35 CET and Edge of Town (Donald McCain/ Jason Maguire) at 14.05 look near certainties. Lucinda Russell can also take the handicap chase at 14.35 with Hole in One (Campbell Gillies), who is still a maiden but does not have much to beat, and the 3 mile chase at 15.40 with Delightfully (Grant Cockburn), one of the few runners here who is guaranteed to stay the distance.

Hayley Turner could be the jockey to follow on Southwell´s all-weather track. She rides CD specialist Punching at 13.25, both for Conor Dore, but her best chance is probably Phil McEntee´s Johnny Skull in the selling handicap at 14.25. This horse runs almost every week but keeps his form well, which is more than can be said for the other runners here. Bet best however is On the Cusp (Richard Guest/ Martin Harley), who can complete a quick CD hat-trick in the mile handicap at 14.55. Please remember that all northern hemisphere thoroughbreds celebrated their birthday on Sunday; this means that the runners in the 3yo handicap at 16.30 were 2yo´s last week; top-weight Point at Issue (David and Adrian Nicholls) ran well here on Sunday and can possibly win this.