Ireland, Scotland and England

a poor Sunday with relatively weak cards at the Curragh and Nottingham (flat) and over jumps at Perth in Scotland. By normal Irish standards, the Curragh meeting is very low-key, with the listed race over 10 furlongs at 16.50 CET the main feature. This sees an interesting clash between 3yo´s and older horses., with the younger hgeneration represented by 4 of the 10 runners. Two of them have classic form- Lines of Battle (Aidan and Joseph O´Brien), winner of the UAE Derby and 7th in the Kentucky Derby, and Trading Leather (Jim Bolger/ Kevin Manning), third in the Irish 2000 Guineas. We just prefer the former and see another 3yo, the Aga Khan´s very lightly-raced Zand (John Oxx/ Declan McDonogh) as the only danger to the top two.
The best race at Nottingham is the 5 furlongs handicap at 16.45. Bottom-weight Taurus Twins /RJ Price/ Luke Morris) won this last year; his form since then has been very in and out, but he has obvious prospects of landing the double. However the handicapper has given a chance to 11yo Tax Free (David and Adrian Nicholls). This one time Group race winner has been dropped to his lowest rating for 8 years (!); if he is in the right mood, he can certainly get back on the winning trail today.
Perh offers quite a decent N.H. card for the time of year, and trainers from far and wide have made the long journey to Scotland from Ireland, Wales and the extreme south-west of England: Paul Nicholls saddles his very promising young chaser Merrion Square (Ryan Mahon) in the main event, a 3 mile handicap chase at 17.30 and he is the likely favourite. But watch out for Mumbles Head (Perter Bowen/ Tom O´Brien); his recent form reads terrinbly, but he is unbeaten in 4 starts here and won this last year off the same rating. At the age of 12, he can still show the youngsters a thing or two.

Betting forecast Nottingham:
1. Race: Speed The Plough - Excel`s Beauty - Celtic Ice
2. Race: Street Entertainer - Tijori - Naburn
3. Race: Chloe`s Dream - Tregereth - Beacon Tarn
4. Race: Last Sovereign - Demora - Blanc De Chine
5. Race: Dawn Of Empire - Close At Hand - Tafaaseel
6. Race: Star Of Mayfair - Not Rigg - Woody Bay
7. Race: Honoured - Seldom - Cane Cat