5 meetings today

There are 5 meetings in the U.K. today and at the time of writing it looks as if all 5 will go ahead - although after yesterday´s disasters one cannot be certain. At Lingfield this afternoon, the first 5 races are on turf and the last 3 on the all-weather. The fillies handicap at 16.30 CET looks the most interesting event. The older runners are not up to much, so the 3yo´s should dominate here, with Ironically (David Lanigan/ Ted Durcan), a good runner-up at Windsor last time after a 9 months break, the very well-bred Gallipot (John Gosden/ William Buick), whose owner Lady Rothschild has scored with her last 7 runners (!), and Panettone (Roger Varian/ Neil Callan), who has not yet run in 2012, the three to concentrate on.

At Yarmouth, the 7 furlongs handicap at 17.10 is the best race. Some of these have been running in much better races, such as The Confessor (Henry Candy/ Dane O´Neill) and Born to Surprise (Michael Bell/ Jamie Spencer), but we have a sneaking fancy for Hadaj (Clive Brittain/ Tom Queally), who looks well handicapped. At Catterick, where the going will be very testing, we like 8yo Bollin Felix (Tim Easterby/ David Allan) in the 2 mile handicap at 16.20; the stable is in good form, he stays well and he goes well on this ground.

The going will also be heavy at Worcester´s jumps meetimg this evening. The best race here on paper is the novice hurdle at 22.10 where no fewer than 8 of the 12 runners are last-time-out winners from big stables. However it appears that this race has been targeted by trainers angry at the low prize-money and that there will be a mass of non-runners, leaving possibly only one runner to walk over.

Finally there is the usual Wednesday evening all-weather card at Kempton. Easily the best race here is the mile handicap at 21.50 with some smart performers entetred. Our selection is the lkghtly-raced Godolphin 3yo Famous Poet /Saeed bin Suroor/ Frankie Dettori), a winner here in April and who ran well at the Epsom Derby meeting. Russian Ice (Dean Ivory/ Shane Kelly) is a CD specialist but is badly drawn on the wide outside, but Morning Charm (John Gosden/ William Buick) is a very interesting runner. She ran once as a 2yo, winning quite a hot Newmatrket maiden in August 2010 and has not been seen since. As she belongs to a big owner-breeder, it is surprising that she has been kept in training, and as the stable form could not be better, she must definitely be considered.

Kempton - betting forecast:
1. Race: Lady Mango - Douze Points - Dvinsky
2. Race: March - Nardin - Hoodna
3. Race: Avonmore Star - Barney McGrew - Button Moon
4. Race: Phonic - Decana - Emrani
5. Race: Silent Moment - Officer In Command - Mafi
6. Race: Famous Poet - Rio Grande - Russian Ice
7. Race: Do More Business - Storm Runner - Abriachan