The Lull before the storm

The Cheltenham Festival starts tomorrow, so today´s 3 N.H. meetings are all very low key. The race that interests us most at Stratford is the handicap hurdle at 17.10 CET, with two German-breds running, both of whom will like the drying ground. In fact it probably needs to get even firmer to suit Mauritino (Jonjo O´Neill/ Maurice Lineham), who won 5 races last year - all on firm ground.

Conditions should be perfect for Aviso (David Evans/ Lee Stephens); this one- time German classic winner lost his form completely but trainer Evans has finally found the key to him and he has won 4 races already this year, two of them over hurdles. He looks a natural over hurdles, and although h is up in the ratings and meeting much better opposition this time, we think he can score again. Drumshambo (Venetia Williams /Sam Thomas) is probably the main danger.

We also like a German-bred at Taunton: Speedy Directa (Brendan Powell sen and jun), who runs in the handicap hurdle at 17.20. His recent bad form on soft or heavy ground can be ignored, as he is much better on the good going he will find today. He has dropped to a very nice weight, as has the other German-bred runner in this event, Brilliant (Di Hamer/ Aidan Conlon)

Wer are less confident about Marleno (Brendan Powell/ Charlie Poste) at 17.00 at Plumpton. This German-bred seems a bit too high in the weights at present, but could still be involved as the field looks very weak. Two old-timers who show their best form at this track look interesting each-way prospects here - Just Beware at 16.30 and Gentleman Jimmy an hour later.