5 meetings today

5 Meetings today, including a low level card on the all-weather this evening at Kempton. The 4 N.H. meetings also have relatively little to offer, with some small fields at the 3 meetings in the U.K. The Irish card at Thurles has some bigger fields and the most interesting runner today is Trifolium (Charlie Byrnes/ Bryan Cooper) in the opening beginners chase at 13.25 CET. Although he finished tailed off in his last race a year ago, that was a Grade One hurdle, and he was easily the best of these over the smaller obstacles; the trainer seems confident and we expect him to score on his chasing debut.
The best race in the U.K. is the 3 mile handicap hurdle at 15.05 at Market Rasen. All 9 runners can be given a chance here, and our tentative suggestion is Act of Kalanisi (Dr. Richard Newland/ Christopher Ward), who ran well enough at the Cheltenham October fixture on his first attempt at this trip to suggest that he has a future in such events. We also like last-time-out winners Suburban Boy (Alan King/ Wayne Hutchinson) here at 14.30 and Wily Fox (James Eustace/ Jack Quinlan) at 15.40.
The main event at Wincanton is also a handicap hurdle, this time over 2 1/2 miles at 14.50. This is another very open affair and our 3 against the field are Beachfire (John Ferguson/ Denis O´Regan) - a Royal Ascot winner on the flat- Sound Investment (Paul Nicholls/ Daryl Jacob), from the top local trainer, and consistent Foxcub (Tom Symonds/ David Crosse). A recent winner who can follow up here under a penalty is Richmond (Venetia Williams/ Aidan Coleman), who appears to have little to beat at 16.30.
At Chepstow the ground will be very testing and stakes should be kept low. One who should go well in these conditions is ex-French half-bred Un Anjou (David Dennis/ Sam Twiston-Davies) who can take the 2 1/2 mile handicap chase at 15.50.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Howaboutnow - Make Me A Fortune - Think Out Loud
2. Race: Corrin Wood - Benevolent - Baby Shine
3. Race: Suburban Bay - Spanish Arch - Present View
4. Race: Free To Dream - Greyfriars Drummer - Koultas King
5. Race: Wily Fox - Compton Blue - Cloudy Bob
6. Race: Hopeand - Croco Mister - Molko Jack
7. Race: Kilcooley - In The Rough - Jac The Legend