5 meetings today

more abandonments seem certain in the next few days following the current bad weather, but all of today´s 5 meetings go ahead, including Huntingdon, where the track was under water earlier in the week. Obviously the ground will be very testing, which should suit Anton Chigurh (Brendan Powell/ James Banks), who makes his hurdling debut here at 14.50 CET. He won twice on the flat on heavy going and this may give him the edge over form choice New Years Eve (John Ferguson/ Jack Quinlan); this well-bred 6yo has not really lived up to expectations and as he is out of an Acatenango mare, might not like ground as heavy as this. Dawn Twister (Lucy Wadham/ Leighton Aspell), who runs in the handicap hurdle over 3 1/4 miles at 15.55, is by Monsun and should appreciate the ground; he has also disappointed a couple of times but must have a decent each-way chance in this company. Secret Edge (Alan King/ Stephen O´Donovan) is an interesting runner in the final race at 17.00; he is the stable´s first runner since New Year; King will clearly watch his performance with great interest, but the fact that he has put a relatively inexperienced claimer up suggests that he does not carry full stable confidence.
The card is stronger at Doncaster and Lucy Wadham can kick off an across-the-card double with Daliance (Matt Crawley) at 14.10. The novice hurdle which follows half an hour later could be the most interesting race of the day. Dubai Prince (John Ferguson/ Denis O´Regan) was a major Derby hope in 2011 and looked like being a smart performer over hurdles after winning very easily on his debut. He flopped at Kempton on Boxing Day but we shall give him another chance here, though there are some useful opponents, notably Area Fifty One (Nicky Henderson/ Barry Geraghty), who was also pretty decent on the flat and makes his debut over sticks here.
Easily the best race at today´s 3 all-weather meetings is the 7 furlongs handicap at 16.05 at Lingfield, worth over 28,000 GBP to the winner. Jim Goldie has sent Hawkeyethenoo (Graham Lee) on the long journey south from Scotland for this and this smart performer can defy top weight here; another participant to have come a long way for this is Jamie Spencer, riding yesterday in Dubai; he partners Kevin Ryan´s Burning Blaze, and he could be the main danger.

Betting forecast Lingfield:
1. Race: Ocean Legend - My Kingdom - Prince Of Burma
2. Race: Spreadable - Hot Stock - Ain`t No Surprise
3. Race: Lexi`S Hero - Kuanyao - Seek The Fair Land
4. Race: Roy`S Legacy - Your Gifted - Johnny Splash
5. Race: Hawkeyethenoo - Georgian Bay - George Guru
6. Race: Global Explorer - My My My Diliza - Shamardyh
7. Race: Anglo Irish - Samtu - Officer Drivel