More rain, more non-runners

The bad weather continues, but all racing in the U.K. goes ahead today. However there are once more lots of non-runners and some fields are now very small as a result -for example only 4 left in the fillies handicap at 17.05 CET at Salisbury. And of course with very soft ground everywhere, there may be even more non-runners to come. Under these circumstances, betting opportunities are few and far between.

At Lingfield, the first 3 races will be run on turf (heavy going) and the last 4 on polytrack. The 7 furlongs handicap at 16.50 is the best race here and all of the 9 runners have a chance in this open affair. Our preference is for top-weight Mia´s Boy (Chris Dwyer/ George Baker), who has not yet hit top form this season but has been running in tough races and is very useful on this surface. Richard Hannon is undeterred by the weather and sends a strong team to Salisbury. We expect him to saddle a couple of winners at least, with possibly the Queen´s Traveller´s Tales (Richard Hughes) at 17.05 his best chance.

At Brighton this evening, course specialist Magical Speedfit (George Margarson/ Richard Old) runs in the opening 5 furlongs handicap at 19.00. However we doubt that he can handle this soft ground, and top-weight Clear Praise (Simon Dow/ Tom Queally) and bottom-weight Amazing Win (Mick Channon/ Charles Bishop) are both preferred. There is a jumps card at Southwell this evening, where Blase Chevalier (Seamus Mullins/ Tony McCoy), a useful bumper performer, can win the mares maiden hurdle at 21.10 on her debut over sticks. Ogee (Pauline Robeson/ Jimmy McCarthy) has obviously had his problems, but he is smart on his day and can outclass the opposition in the 3 mile handicap hurdle at 21.40; he ran out a winner on his only previous visit to this track.

In Ireland, Roscommon stages another mixed meeting. Reaching (Aidan and Joseph O´Brien) is clearly not one of the stars in her mighty stable, but she was just touched off last time and might to be good enough to take the opening fillies maiden at 18.45.