5 meetings today

lots of racing today and easily the best of it is at Doncaster, where the good to soft going has attracted some strong fields. The most interesting race is the veterans handicap chase over 3 miles at 16.25 CET, which features several runners with good form (sometimes a while ago) at the top meetings at Cheltenham and Aintree. Top-weight Massini´s Maguire (Tim Vaughan/ Richard Johnson) has not run for 2 years., which is a bit off-putting, but he has some very smart form to his credit. Big Fella Thanks (Tom George/ Paddy Brennan) has run in 4 Grand Nationals and won the Great Yorkshire Chase over this CD in 2009 on his only start here. Burton Port (Jonjo O´Neill/ Davy Russell) and Time for Rupert (Paul Webber/ Denis O´Regan) were 4th and 5th in the 2012 Cheltenham Gold Cup; we now choose the last-named who seems very well handicapped on that form. Webber and O´Regan also have a good chance in the opening novice hurdle at 14.45 with Rhapando, who receives 6 lbs from the likely favourite Stellar Notion (George/ Brennan). Pearl Castle (John Quinn/ Brian Hughes) was an impressoive winner over this CD last month; here could be Cheltenham-bound but must first deal with some decent opposition in the 4yo hurdle at 15.50. Holywell (O´Neill/ Tony McCoy) was a top staying hurdler and can take the novice chase over 3 miles at 15.20; Top Of The Range (Nicky Henderson/ Barry Geraghty) and Victor Hewgo (Keith and James Reveley) were not as good as he was over sticks, but have already shown aptitude for fences.
Quite a few of the top jumps Jockeys will be at Ludlow and we expect Aidan Coleman to continue his winning run for Venetia Williams there. We are especially interested in German-bred Lochnagar, who makes his U.K. debut in the maiden hurdle at 15.10, He had good flat form in Germany when trained by Waldemar Hickst but we are a bit worried about the heavy ground.
There are some large fields at the Irish Meeting at Punchestown, where Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh can land another double with Bless N´Ject at 15.35 and Upsie in the main event at 16.10; the latter is clear top-rated in this hurdle race for mares and should have too many guns for Layla Joan (Gordon Elliott/ Paul Carberry), who has won her last 4 races, but all in much lesser company.
Main interest in the two all-weather meetings is the return to action of Ryan Moore, riding for the first time this year in the U.K. He has 2 rides at Kempton this evening and can win on them both.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Stellar Notion - Master Dee - In The Rough
2. Race: Holywell - Top Of The Range - Victor Hewgo
3. Race: Pearl Castle - Ronaldinho - Zamoyski
4. Race: Aachen - Mcmurrough - Son Of Flicka
5. Race: Kaysersberg - Matthew Riley - Mr Utah
6. Race: Palypso De Creek - Beneficial Reform - Foundry Square
7. Race: Zeroeshadesofgrey - Mont Royale - Relic Rock