4 poor meetings today

Once again 4 meetings today, two over jumps and two on the all-weather, but the standard again is pretty low all round. Easily the best race is the Irish Grade Three chase over 2 1/4 miles at Thurles at 14.25 CET, but the field is very feeble for a race of this category and only 2 of the 5 runners have a rating entitling them to play a role - Foildubh (JP Ryan/ Paul Carberry) and Call the Police (Willie Mullins/ Ruby Walsh) The latter, in receipt of 7 lbs, is easily preferred..Wullinsd and Walsh can follow up by winning the next race with Cadspeed; his form figures do not look inspiring, but we would have been an easy winner last time at Clonmel but for falling at the last, and he should outclass these rivals today.

There is also jumping at Ayr, with some small fields and very testing ground. As üptredicted, Lucinda Russell did well here yesterday and she has some more good chances today with No Deal (Peter Buchanan) at 13.30, Et Maintenant (Grant Cockburn) at 15.00, Lady of Verona (Craig Nicol) half an hour later and Ballyben (Georgeann Watters) in the bumper at 16.30. We don´t expect them all to win, but some should do so; in fact we prefer The Hairy Lemon (James Ewart/ Bryan Hughes) in the opener, and CD specialist Bene Lad (Jim Goldie/ Richie McGragh) at 15.30.

Today´s flat racing is pretty disdmal. Harry Buckle (Charlie McBride/ William Carson) is improving and can take the 10 furlongs handicap off bottom weight at Lingfield at 15.20, while Sporting Gold (Roger Varian/ Jamie Spencer) should win the maiden over the same trip half an hour later. We don´t normally bet in class 7 handicaps, but shall make an exception in the case of the 17.35 race over 7 furlongs at Wolverhampton. Ex-Irish Hittin the Skids (Kevin Ryan/ Paddy Aspell) won over this CD a week ago on his first start for his new stable and can follow up under a penalty, although the placed horses from that race now reoppose on better terms.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Sizing Kimberlite - Stop The Clock - Peinora
2. Race: Call The Police - Foildubh - Odonimee
3. Race: Cadspeed - Galianna - Force Of Habit
4. Race: War Correspondent - Coolnagorna Giggs - Rocknrollrambo
5. Race: Dazzlers Day - Jacks Island - Bobsthewizard
6. Race: Mount Vesuvius - Shanroe Society - Whatsthecrack Jack
7. Race: Briar Hill - Cyras Love - In The Gate