3 meetings today

the usual low-level sport in the U.K. today and even the Irish meeting at Navan is not as high class as is usually the case on a Sunday in Ireland. The most interesting races there are the hurdle race at 13.45 (with only 4 runners) and the beginners chase at 15.45. In the latter event those smart hurdlers from last year Alderwood (Tom Mullins/ Mark Walsh) and Prima Vista (Noel Meade/ Paul Carberry) clash. Neither has really shone over fences so far, but Alderwood, a winner at both the Cheltenham and Punchestown Festivals last spring, was the better over sticks. However although they have both shown form on heavy ground, both would probably prefer better going and this is a race to watch rather than to bet on. The same applies to the earlier race; Willie Mullins has two runners, Midnight Game (Davy Russell), out of a good German mare, and Pickapocketortwo (Paddy), while the other two are also smart- Cause of Causes (Gordon Elliott/ Davy Condon) won a big Ascot handicap just be fore Christmas while Hisaabaat (Dermot Weld/ Andrew Lynch) was runner-up in the Triumph Hurdle last year. These small fields often result in very tactical races run at a false pace and again we would rather just watch this.
Form horses are few and far between at Kelso. The best horse on view is almost certainly Corrin Wood (Donald McCain/ Jason Maguire) who runs in the novice hurdle at 14.50. He is potentially smart and should make short work of this opposition, but will be at a very short price. A more speculative but possibly more lucrative bet is Notonebuttwo (Chris Grant/ Barry Keniry) in the handicap hurdle at 15.50. he has shown next to nothing so far., but is lightly raced and is on a very lenient rating; the opposition looks extremely weak.

Betting forecast Navan:
1. Race: Midnight Game - Cause Of Causes - Pickapocketortwo
2. Race: To The Sky - Blissful Moment - Dancers Dilemma
3. Race: Shanroe Society - Prince Of Milan - Chestnut Charlie
4. Race: Suntiep - Hard To Swallow - Fergiethelegend
5. Race: Alderwood - Prima Vista - Spring Heeled
6. Race: Saoirse Dun - Tarquinius - Harpsy Cord
7. Race: Benemeade - Our Cobajay - Wicklow Gold