3 poor meetings again today

very modest sport on offer today, with jumps racing at Chepstow and Fontwell and all-weather racing at Southwell. Tony McCoy is taking a few days off to recover from all his bruises, so Dougie Costello comes in for 2 good rides in the first 2 races at Chepstow - Fayette County (Tim Vaughan) at 15.00 CET and El Macca (Rebecca Curtis) half an hour later, both owned by JP McManus. The two trainers are in good form and both should go well. Another jockey who could land a double for 2 different trainers is Wayne Hutchinson, who rides oldtimer Nozic for Zeo Davison at 16.00 and hat-trick-seeking Our Phyllis Vera for Alan King at 16.35. Best bet here is Bob Keown (Curtis/ Paul O´Brien), who can follow up last week´s win under a 7 lbs penalty at 17.10.
Lydia Richards is rarely seen in the winner´s enclosure these days, but when she is, it is normally at her local track Fontwell and she can take the handicap chase there at 15.40 with Venetian Lad (Mark Goldstern); he is the most consistent, but is well handicapped and runs his best races here. German-bred A Keen Sense (David Dennis/ Leighton Aspell) has an each-way Chance in the novice hurdle at 16.10; the son of Sholokhov had not shown a great deal so far, but we think he is capable of winning a small race at some stage. The betting for this race is dominated by Arthur´s Oak (Venetia Williams/ Aidan Coleman) and Virtuel d´Oudon (David Pipe/ Conor O´Farrell), and A Keen Sense should start at a very attractive price.
Alan King and Donald McCain are both better known as jumps trainers but they have a good strike rate on the flat and both could be among the winners at Southwell. King saddles Ridgeway Storm (Tom Queally) in the 1 1/2 maiden at 15.50, and the only one he has to worry about is probably well-bred newcomer From Frost (Andrew Balding/ David Probert). McCain runs top-weight Lyric Street (Phillip Makin) in the 1 3/4 mile handicap at 17.35; he is no star, but the opposition looks very feeble. Tarrafal can continue the good run of Mark Johnston and Joe Fanning imn ther 3yo maiden at 17.00; he is very well-bred being out of champion Cape Verdi.

Betting forecast Chepstow:
1. Race: Fayette County - Call The Cops - Cool George
2. Race: Mrs Jordan - Blue Heron - Eaton Rock
3. Race: Tokyo Javilex - Nozic - Islandmagee
4. Race: Our Phylli Vera - Madame De Guise - Lady Charisma
5. Race: Bob Keown - Pilgreen - Midnight Request
6. Race: Cruchain - Tolkeins Tango - Gud Day
7. Race: Minella Present - Theunnamedsoldier - Flamenco Lad