5 more poor meetings today

Mainly low-level racing a today´s 5 meetings. Yarmouth begins its main meeting of the year with a disappointing card and some small fields. Only 5 run in the 1 1/2 mile handicap for 3yo´s at 17.00, the richest race of the day in the U.K. Thomas Hobson (John Gosden/ William Buick) is the likely favourite here, having won his last 2 races but he has gone up a lot in the weights and in unproven at the distance.

We prefer top-weight Royal Skies (Mark Johnston/ Kieren Fallon), who has good form to his credit over this trip. At Thirsk, German-bred Fieldgunner Kirkup (David Barron/ Graham Gibbons) is our selection for the 7 furlongs handicap at 16.40. He will like the soft going and usually runs well here - in fact he won this race last year. Our Boy Jack (Richard Fahey/ George Chaloner) has not won for ages, but is now nicely handicapped and looks a big threat.

Tight Fit (Henry Candy/ Dane O´Neill) has been in good form this summer and won 3 of his last 4 starts; he has top-weight in the 7 furlongs handicap at 16.50 at Chepstow. He could win again, but we also´like Secret Beau (David Evans/ DJ Bates), who was claimed out of Ralph Beckett´ s stable and can get some of the money back today.

There is N.H. racing today at Stratford when Robert Thornton makes his long-awaited comeback from injury. He partners top-weight Letsby Avenue (Alan King) in the handicap hurdle at 19.05. We wish him well, but do not expect him to win today; our preference is for Topolski (David Arbuthnot/ Tom Cannon), who is fit from the flat but very well handicapped on his old form. German-bred Dawn Commander (Charlie Longsdon/ Noel Fehily) could be the main danger.

In Ireland, the Harvest Festival Meeting at Listowel continues with another mixed card. With the O´Brien 2yo´s winning all over the place, we expect Masai to land the odds in the opening race at 16.05, while Dermot Weld can take the maiden for 2yo fillies at 17.05 with the well-bred debutant Lanyard (Pat Smullen). Sizing Symphony (Henry de Bromhead/ Andrew Lynch), a smart novice hurdler in 2011, made a good comeback over fences recently and can take the novice chase at 18.10. The 2 mile handicap hurdle at 18.45 is the most valuable race of the day and looks very tricky. Willie Mullins saddles the 3 top-weights and Call me Bubbles (Ruby Walsh) could possibly come out best.