3 poor meetings today

the week usually starts in a very low key, and this week - which builds up to a huge climax on Saturday - is no exception. None of today´s 3 meetings really fires the imagination, but Towcester clearly has the best card, and the mares handicap hurdle over 3 miles at 16.00 CET is the most interesting race of the day. Most of the 10 runners are in good form and a case can be made out for them all, with the possible exception of top0-weight Coronea Lady (Neil Mulholland/ Tony McCoy), who has not run since October, when she finished last to The New One (!); The next two in the weights look much more dangerous: Bull and Bush (Alan King/ Wayne Hutchinson), very lightly-raced and a good winner at Doncaster last time, and Miss Milbourne (Jamie Snowden/ Brendan Powell), more exposed but very well handicapped on her old form over hurdles and now in a first-time visor. However our main fancy is bottom-weight Cove (Nick Gofford/ Andrew Thornton), a winner 9 days ago and clearly improving. It must be difficult for the handicapper to get to grips with this sort of performer, but we cannot see why Bull and Bush, whose profile is similar, must concede her 17 lbs, and she must be the selection. Our other tips here are Basford Ben (Jennie Candlish/ Sean Quinlan), due a win after several places at 16.30, and last week´s easy winner Take the Crown (Henry Oliver / Danis O´Regan) half an hour later.
Richard Johnson is riding in fantastic form at presemt and has several good rides at Taunton. Nick Williams´ Hint of Mint, in the novice hurdle at 16.20, is possibly his best chance. An hour later, King´s Warrior (Tom George/ Paddy Brennan), a useful handicapper on the flat who has so far not shone over sticks, has been given an extremely lenient weight in the handicap hurdle and if he has any ability at all, should win this.
The card for Wolverhampton´s all-weather fixture is dreadful and all races are class 5 or 6. Lewis Walsh is a promising apprentice and can take the 7 furlongs handicap at 16.40 on David SImcock´s last-time-out CD winner Hierarch.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Spyder - Such A Legend - Rhapando
2. Race: Fair Bramble - Riddlestown - Todareistodo
3. Race: Bull And Bush - Mistral Reine - Pyleigh Lass
4. Race: Cosway Spirit - Classic Case - Royaume Bleu
5. Race: Take The Crown - Walter De La Mare - Torgamah Lad
6. Race: Missionaire - Bennys Quest - Speedy Bruere
7. Race: Western Diva - Thedrinkymeister - Ballybolley