full programme today

a busy day with all 3 N.H. meetings in the U.K. going ahead - Ayr, Sedgefield and Huntingdon- as well as jumps racing from Ireland at Clonmel and an evening all-weather card at Wolverhampton. Plus of course much better flat racing at Meydan, where the prize-money is considerably more than at all British and Irish meetings out together.
The best jumps race is the Grade Three novice hurdle over 3 miles at 15.45 CET at Clonmel, though this is a relatively weak affair with Cheltenham just around the corner. With Willie Mullins so strong in this department, we select the lightly-raced Don Poli here, who will be ridden by Gigginstown´s retained Jockey Bryan Cooper. Cooper can complete a Gigginstown double on Desertmore Stream at 16.45, whose trainer Philip Fenton seems remarkably unworried about today´s court hearing.
There are small fields at the 3 U.K. jumps meetings - with 15 of the 21 races having 6 runners or less. There are only 5 in the top race, the listed Sidney Banks Memorial, a listed novice hurdle over 2 1/2 miles at 16.40 at Huntingdon. No stars here either., and we expect the very consistent Spirit of Shankly (Charlie Longsdon/ Noel Fehily) to come out on top, despite conceding weight all round. The best horse running today could be Vieux Lion Rouge (David Pipe/ Tom Scudamore) in a novice hurdle at 15.30 at Sedgefield; he has won 5 of his 6 starts - 3 bumpers and both his races over sticks very easily. But he is penalised and must give 21 lbs to his most serious opponent, the well-bred 4yo Prince Khurram (Donald McCain/ Brian Harding). The one we like best at Ayr is Oil Burner (Willie Amos/ James Reveley) in the handicap chase at 17.20; he was a very easy winner in a lower grade over this CD last month, and the form of that event is working out well.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Perfect Gentleman - Indian File - Rubi Light
2. Race: Don Poli - Moonshine Lad - Seskinane
3. Race: Moores Road - Battling Spirit - Railway Benefit
4. Race: Daliyan - Desertmore Stream - Kalico Kalista
5. Race: Snowell - Ultra Light - Ivanka
6. Race: Most Peculiar - Positive Approach - Drunken Counsel