Folkestone finale

Folkestone today stages probably its last day of racing ever; this follows on from Hereford on Sunday, with both tracks being closed down by the owners Arc for financial reasons. In all honesty, today´s card is so poor that few racegoers will miss this racecourse. Most of the top jockeys are here and two likely winners are Pine Creek (John Ferguson/ Denis O´Regan) in the opening novice hurdle at 13.30 CET and Shernando (Nicky Henderson/ Tony McCoy) in the maiden hurdle an hour later. Pine Creek showed ability on the flat for Andre Fabre and can win on his debut for Ferguson, who specialises in such cases, while Shernando won 4 races on the flat and has already showed talent over hurdles; the fdangers are prpbably German-bred Lord of House (Charlie Mann/ Noel Fehily) in the earlier race, and Tidal Dance (Emma Lavelle/ Domicic Elsworth) in the later one. One German-bred who can win here is Sulpius (Bob Buckler/ Andrew Glassonbury), who has done us two good turns recently; howe ver those wins were at Fontwell, while he fell on his only start here, so we are not 100% confident.

The N.H. card at Catterick is equally poor, but it is interesting that the two best handicaps are contested by last year´s winners, and is quite conceivable that they could both win again. They are Dystonia´s revenge (Sue and Chatltte Walton) over fences at 14.40 and Carmela Maria (Mike Sowersby/ Edmond Lineham) in the hurdle race, also over an extended 3 miles, at 15.10. Neither has won since that 2011 success and both seem to reserve their best form for this track.

There is also flat racing on the all-weather at Lingfield, but the racing here is equally undistinguished. Two horses we would like to see win for sentimental reasons are Ishi (Rod and James Millman) in the maiden race at 13.20, as the jockey will retire after this race, and Dvinsky (Paul Howling/ Jimmy Quinn) in the 6 furlongs handicap at 16.20. The 11yo has been a great advertisement for the durability of the thoroughbred; he is running for the 220th time (believed to be a record) and has 19 wins and 67 places to his credit. His best form has arguably been at Kempton, but he also ran well here last time, and with some luck in running, he may be able to score for the 20th time today.

Folkestone - betting forecast:
1. Race: Pine Creek - If In Doubt - Whipcrackaway
2. Race: Talkonthestreet - Godsmejudge - Barlow
3. Race: Shernando - Tidal Dance - Ten More
4. Race: Lajidaal - Flowerbud - Sawago
5. Race: Witch`S Hat - Sulpius - Tchang Goon
6. Race: Stravita - Boomtown - Achieved
7. Race: Landenstown Star - Jasperito - Sea Cadet