Only 3 runners in Naas Grade Two

The best race today is the Grade Two Slaney Novice Hurdle over 2 1/2 miles at 14.30 CET at Naas. Unfortunately Willie Mullins has had to withdraw Upazo, who did not get back in time from his abortive trip to Sandown´s abandoned meeting yesterday. There are now only 3 runners and Mullins should still win with Briar Hill (Ruby Walsh) who looks a candidate for major honours. After winning Cheltenham´s Champion Bumper by 7 lengths he has won both his hurdles starts very easily, starting at long odds-on each time. He won´t pay much today, but should not be troubled to concede weight to his two opponents, Apache Jack (Dessie Hughes/ Bryan Cooper) and Very Wood (Noel Meade/ Paul Carberry), who are useful but not up to this standard. Mullins has also withdrawn Mozoltov from the novice chase at 14.00, which leaves Ned Buntline (Meade/ Carberry) with a seemingly easy task.

In the U.K. the top race is the Sussex National over 3 miles 5 furlongs at 15.50 at Plumpton. With very testing ground, this will be quite an ordeal and the 9 runners are basically all plodders. None are very reliable and our two against the field are top-weight Monkerty Tunkerty (Jessica Westwood/ Wayne Kennedy) and Smoking Aces (Jonjo O´Neill/ Tony McCoy).venetia Williams has no runners in this race, but has a very good strike rate at Plumpton and could well take the first 4 races with Dubawi Island at 13.50, Brick Red at 14.20, Marcilhac at 14.50 and Mudita Moment half an hour later, all partnered by stable jockey Aidan Coleman. They could even win the handicap chase at 16.20 with Browns Brook, even though this one has never yet finished in the first 5 - although top-weight Overnight Fame (Tom George/ Aodhagan Conlan) looks the more logical selection here.

There is also all-weather racing at Southwell, although frankly we would rather give this meeting a miss. Borough Boy (Derek Shaw/ Dale Swift) is no star, but won over this CD last Monday and might be able to follow up under a penalty oin the 6 furlongs handicap at 14.10; however we prefer Ivestar (Mick Easterby/ Adam Kirby), whose team scored a famous victory at Lingfield yesterday. Otherwise there are mainly very small fields which are totally unsuitable for betting purposes.