3 meetings today

3 meetings today but nothing of great importance. Moose Moran (David Pipe/ Tom Scudamore) is an interesting runner under top weight in the 2 3/4 mile handicap hurdle at 15.40 CET at Wetherby. Previously trained by Sir Henry Cecil and then Nicky Henderson, he has miserably failed to live up to earlier promise, but perhaps a change of stables will solve his problems. However the logical choice here is clearly Seven is Lucky (Jim Goldie/ Henry Brooke) who carries no penalty for his easy win at Ayr and is still on a very nice mark. Alderluck, ex-Nick Gifford, is another Pipe newcomer and could also show improvement when he contests the handicaap chase at 16.15, especially with first-time blinkers. However this is a very tricky race in which any of the 12 runners could win. Our tentative selection is Mac Aeda (Malcolm Jefferson/ Brian Hughes). Our each way bet here is Le Roi Rouge (Ferdy Murphy/ Robert McCarth) in the 2 mile handicap chase at 17.25; he has been dropped to a favour able weight, likes it here and goes well for this jockey.

Best race at Taunton is the handicap hurdle at 16.40. The form choices here are Sire de Grugy (Gary and Jamie Moore), 4th in the big handicap at Newbury last Friday, and the consistent Edagrdo Sol (Paul Nicholls/ Harry Derham); however there i coughing in the Nicholls stable, so we should be careful with his runners, while the Newbury event was very tough and rough. We shall take a chance on Dare Me (Philip Hobbs/ Richard Johnson), 9th of 14 on his comeback after 14 months, but who has definite possibilities on his old form. The Hobbs stable has been going through a quiet spell, but we also think he can win the novice hurdle here at 15.00 with Giordano Bruno (Johnson) as well as the hunter chase at 17.45 with Templer (Nicholas Sutton).

There are small fields at Southwell´s all-weather fixture, with only 35 runners in the 7 races. Cotton Trader (John Gosden/ Nicky Mackay) in the maiden at 15.50 and course specialist La Estrella (Don Cantillon/ Adam Kirby) in the claimer at 16.25 should both win, but they will be at long odds-on and are not bombproof. The 1 1/2 miles handicap at 17.00 is a more suitable betting medium, but looks wide open; we fancy Spartan King (Ian Williams/ Jamie Spencer), who looked unlucky when narrowly beaten here last time.