Market Rasen and Ffos Las

With the Irish meeting at Navan abandoned - it is hoped to stage the fixture , weather permitting, on Tuesday - we are left with just two moderate N.H. fixtures in the U.K. The most interesting runner is Darley Sun (John Ferguson/ Denis O´Regan) who makes his hurdling debut at 15.00 CDE at Market Rasen. He was a smart stayer on the flat, winning the Cesarewitch for David Simcock in 2009 and running in the Gold Cup and other top races for Godolphin afterwards. Ferguson has repeatedly shown that he can prepare ex-flat horses for a hurdling career and we shall be surprised if he is beaten today. Otherwise this meeting can be dominated by Tony McCoy. He rides Thunderstorm for Philip Hobbs in the handicap hurdle at 16.30 and this improving performer can defy a big rise in the weights and complete a four-timer. McCoy also has obvious chances at 15.30 with Charlie Longsdon´s Don´t Take me Alive, at 16.00 with Chris Grant´s William Money and in the bumper at 18.00 with Steve Golling s´ Dunluce Castle. None of these are stars, but the opposition is also pretty feeble.

Rther surprisingly, Nicky Henderson failed to saddle a winner yesterday, but his one runner today should score - Whisper (Andrew Tinkler) in the novice hurdle that opens the card at 15.20 at Ffos Las. Whisper, owned by racecourse boss Dai Walters, is unbeaten in two starts here and it will a smart one to beat him. Rival Paul Nicholls can also score here with his only runner of the day, Tricky Trickster (Steven Clements), who should outclass the opposition in the hunter chase at 17.20.

Ffos Las - betting forecast:
1. Race: Whisper - Western Warhorse - Rocknrollrambo
2. Race: Orange Nassau - Derwen Pryde - Material Boy
3. Race: Bendant - Roman Conquest - Seigneur Des Bois
4. Race: Dirty Deal - Matrow`S Lady - Annaluna
5. Race: Fair Point - Big Game Hunter - Cave Hill
6. Race: Bathwick Junior - Old Magic - Lord Of The Dunes
7. Race: Kayf Moss - Bally Rone - Sergeant Mattie