3 all-weather meetings today

With all U.K. turf racing abandoned today, we now have 3 all-weather meetings - Wolverhampton and Lingfield in the afternoon and Kempton this evening, where the main event is the listed race over 1 1/2 miles at 19.00 CET. Top-weight here, and also top-rated, is Harris Tweed (William Haggas/ Graham Lee), who ran badly last time on very heavy ground, but is otherwise consistent enough in this grade.

Media Hype (Elaine Burke/ Martin Harley) is much improved this season and was 4th over this CD 3 weeks ago, form which gives him a chance here. Art Scholar (Mike Appleby/ George Baker) won the November Handicap from Communicator (Andrew Balding/ David Probert) last time, and with the latter a pound better off, there should be very little between them. This is quite an open race and we give slight preference to Art Scholar, who also has decent form at this track. The 6 furlongs handicap at 20.00 is also a nice race here, in which we select top-weight Ivor Bridge Lad (John Ryan/ Adam Kirby), who has been running in better company.

The most interesting races at Lingfield are the two divisions of the 2yo maiden which open the card; we like Wallenberg (John Gosden/ Rab Havlin), from the top German Waldrun family, in the first division at 13.00, and half an hour later the well-bred debutant Demonic (Sir Henry Cecil/ Eddie Ahern). The jockey booking is interesting here, as Ahern is apparently in trouble with the authorities, but nobody is saying why. However Terddy Grimthorpe. representing the owner Khalid Abdullah, has commented: "if he´s good enough for Henry, he´s good enough for us," which seems fair enough. Gosden and Havlin can complete a double later with the lightly-raced Starfield in the 10 furlongs handicap at 14.35, where the one to beat could be CD specialist Tinshu (Derek Haydn Jones/ William Carson).

The card is lower level at Wolverhampton, which has taken over Southwell´sabandoned meeting. York Glory (Kevin Ryan/ Phillip Makin) should defy top-weight in the 5 furlongs handicap at 16.20 after his easy win at Lingfield last week; that was over 6, but he is equally effective at this distance. He is unlikely to be at a decent price however and a better bet might be Prime Exhibit (Daniel Loughnane/ Richard Kingscote) in the extended mile handicap an hour later. He also has top weight, but his chance is less obvious and he shouldf pay much more.

There is jumping in Ireland at Limerick, an extra fixture to make up for the many days lost to the weather. Willie Mullins can land a hat-trick here with Sarabad (Ruby Walsh) and Tempo du Camp (Davy Russell) in the maiden hurdles at 13.50 amd 14.20 -both ex-French horses looking for their first win in Ireland - and the debutant Suntiep in the bumper at 16.25, ridden by his son Paddy. They are all likely to start as hot favourites, and a better value bet could be The Sneezer (TJ Nagle/ Tom Doyle) in the handicap hurdle at 14.50. He is much better over fences, but is extremely well handicapped over the sticks.

Kempton - betting forecast:
1. Race: Layla`s Oasis - Tartan Blue - Many Elements
2. Race: Fairyinthewind - Bert The Alert - Royal Etiquette
3. Race: Neige D`antan - Officer In Command - Hawaana
4. Race: Rivellino - Serenity Spa - Millers Wharf
5. Race: Communicator - Art Scholar - Harris Tweed
6. Race: Rockalong - Kalokagathia - Blank Czech
7. Race: Swiss Cross - Ajjaadd - Ubetterbegood
8. Race: Pull The Pin - Northern Spy - Takitwo