Today´s N.H. racing

There is also an above-average midweek card at Newbury, and the 5 runners contesting the graduation chase over 3 miles at 15,15 CET are all distinctly useful. Super Duty (Donald McCain/ Jason Maguire) and Hadrian´s Approach (Nicky Henderson/ Barry Geraghty) both ran in the Hennessy here last time; neither completed the race, but that was one of the best races of the year, so there is no disgrace there.

However at These werights we prefer Gullinbursti (Emma Lavelle/ Noel Fehily) - whose last form over hurdles can be ignored - and especially O´Faolains Boy (Rebecca Curtis/ Tony McCoy), who is making his chasing debut here but looked very promising last season. However Henderson and Geraghty get on here, we certainly expect them to have a good afternoon, with Dawalan (a half-brother to Arc winner Dalakhani) holding a good chance at 13.10, and likewise Josses Hill at 14.10 (where Andrew Balding´s newcomer Communicator could be a threat) and Tistory at 15.45. However in the last-named race we also like Broomfield (Paul Nicholls/ Daryl Jacob), whose dam was a daughter of Mill Reef (!)

Despite the attractions of Newbury, quite a few of the leading jockeys are at Ludlow, and we find it significant that Nigel Twiston-Davies sends his son Sam to ride there; he has some good chances, with perhaps Riuddleofthesands at 14.20 and Cootehill at 15.25 the best of them.