5 meetings today

5 meetings today, and while the two all-weather cards (Southwell this afternoon and Kempton this evening) are of little interest, there is some decent jumps racing, especially at Exeter. Ruby Walsh is here for two rides and we expect him to win on both for Paul Nicholls. Provo won a maiden hurdle impressively last time out and should have little trouble in following up at 14.40 CET, while Keppols Hill, winner of several point-to-points last year, was unlucky when beaten a short head on his debut in a proper steeplechase after making a bad mistake at the last, and can recover losses at 15.40. This however is quite a good race, and Philip Hobbs´ pair, Allthekingshorses (Tom O´Brien) and Talkonthestreet (Richard Johnson), must be respected.Hobbs can in any case take the beginners chase half an hour later with Bold Henry (Tony McCoy), while Nicholls also saddles Five Dream (Ryan Mahon) in the 3 mile handovcapo hurdle at 15.10. He was runner-up in this last year, but spent most of the rest of the season chasing Big Buck´s; he never got near that champion,but his rating had shot up as a result and we cannot imagine his beating Captain Sunshine (Emma Lavelle/ Dominic Elsworth) at these weights.

Donald McCain is usually the trainer to follow at Bangor and he can land a double here with Seedless (Jason Maguire) in the 2 1/2 mile handicap chase at 14.30 and with either Glyn Ceiriog (Henry Brooke) or Benjamin Bittern in(Maguire) in the novice hurdle at 16.30. He also has good prospects in the 3 mile handicap chase at 15.00 with Lively Baron (Maguire), but this is a hot race in which all 10 runners have a chance. Monkerty Tunkerty (Jessica Westwood/ Wayne Kennedy) is an interesting runner here, and this point-to-point and hunter chase winner looks dangerously well handicapped.

At Downpatrick, Sarabad (Willie Mullins/ Paul Townend) makes his comeback after two disappointing efflorts when heavily backed last winter; he can atone in the maiden hurdle at 13.35. Gordon Elliott, whose string is in good form, looks set for another profitable day and we expect him to win the other maiden hurdle at 14.05 with Torn Asunder (Davy Russell) and the beginners chase at 15.05 with Vapiano (Davy Condon).

Southwell - betting forecast:
1. Race: Irish Jugger - War - Supersticion
2. Race: Small Fury - Pearl Noir - Robyn
3. Race: Sehnsucht - Snooky - Frederickthegreat
4. Race: Betzyoucan - Eastern Dragon - Carina Palace
5. Race: Divine Angel - Rakticate - Portside Blue
6. Race: Beautiful Day - Desert Creek - Jack Of Diamonds
7. Race: Beat The Bell - Waking Warrior - Ertikaan
8. Race: Italian Riviera - Darsan - Sea Cliff