6 more meetings today

Once again, there is not much quality on view at today´s 6 meetings - 3 on the flat and 3 over jumps. On top of that, there are some small fields and also plenty of non-runners as a result of the change in the weather. There are only 4 runners in the main event at Nottingham, a conditions race over a mile at 16.30 CET. All of them are close to listed standard, and in fact Don´t Call Me (David and Adrian Nicholls) is a group race winner, but we prefer Questioning (John Gosden/ William Buick) and the sole filly Moonstone Magic (Ralph Beckett/ Jim Crowley); the former has not been out since September, so we prefer the filly, who ran a good race when third in an Irish Group Three last time. The handicap for 3yo fillies at 17.05 also looks interesting. Give Way Nelson (Brian Meehan/ Kieren Fallon) and Tosca (Ilka Gansera-Leveque/ Mikael Barzalona) both had decent form in Germany last year. At these weights we prefer Tosca.

There are also only 4 runners in the novice chase at 15.40 at Fontwell, but one of them is not only the highest-rated runner out today but also the best bred - Prospect Wells( Paul Nicholls/ Daryl Jacob), a half-brother by Sadler´s Wells to Arc winner Solemia; the winner of the National Spirit Hurdle here in February, he now makes his chasing debut, and if he jumps round safely, can hardly lose, as he has plenty in hand of these rivals on hurdling form. Lucy Alexander was riding on the flat yesterday, but she reverts to hurdling at Cartmel today and has several promising rides; Ferdy Murtagh´s Pete is rather inconsistent, but won on his only start here, and is now nicely handicapped; we think he is an intereresting each-way prospect in the handicap hurdle at 18.00.

The best racing this evening comes from Beverley, where some useful sprinters line up over 5 furlongs at 21.05; we give a narrow vote to Heerat (William Haggas/ Paul Hanagan), a close fourth to Sole Power in the Palace House Stakes at Newmarket last time. The Hilary Needler Trophy for 2yo fillies 20.35 is no longer the strong race it used to be when it was a major trial for Royal Ascot, biut still 10 of the 11 runners this evening are previous winners. It looks quite open, but we hope to see Champagne Babe (Keith Dalgleish/ Graham Gibbons) come out on top.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Iftaar - Legend Rising - Race Hunter
2. Race: Jofranka - Seven Of Clubs - La Sylphe
3. Race: Common Cents - Two Turtle Doves - Falasteen
4. Race: Colourbearer - Divertimenti - Parisian Pyramid
5. Race: Questioning - Moonstone Magic - Don`T Call Me
6. Race: Sharqawiyah - Give Way Nelson - Zero Game
7. Race: Hello Sailor - Gabrial The Duke - Good Evans
8. Race: Tyrur Ted - Bold Duke - Hydrant