the lull before the storm

with Cheltenham starting tomorrow, there is no point in expecting high class N.H. sport today, and the three meetings - all in the south and west - are all pretty mediocre. Most of the top trainers and jockeys are having an easy time today, but one exception is Noel Fehily, possibly the hottest jockey of them all at the moment and the winner of 3 more fraces yesterday. Today he is at Stratford - very conveniently, only a few miles from Cheltenham, and we expect him to win the two best races there on Neil King´s Keltic Rhythm at 16.40 CET and Harry Fry´s Presenting Arms half an hour later. Keltic Rhythm was only moderate over hurdles, but was a very easy winner first time over fences and seems to have been given a very lenient rating for his first handicap chase. Presenting Arms was a 40-1 winner of a jumpers bumper last time; this race looks quite tricky, but he could also be well handicapped, although the top-weights Leviathan (Venetia Williams/ Liam Treadwell) and Canadian Diamond (Brendan Powell/ James Banks) are obvious dangers.
Brendan Powell´s son, Brendan junior, can win the opener at Plumpton on Jamie Snowden´s Major Milbourne at 15.00. The most successful father-son relationships are however those of Gary Moore, with his 3 sons Jamie, Ryan, and Josh all doing well. Sudden Wish was a winner on the flat last week with Ryan in the saddle, and could win over hurdles today with Jamie aboard here at 16.00, while Josh rides Regal Park for his father at 17.50 at Taunton and also has good prospects.

Betting forecast Stratford:
1. Race: Agreement - Forced Family Fun - Mandy`s Boy
2. Race: Kyles Faith - Cody Wyoming - Riddleofthesands
3. Race: Scribe - Gigondas - Collingbourneducis
4. Race: Fredo - Caulfields Venture - Keltic Rhythm
5. Race: Canadian Diamond - Presenting Arms - Leviathan
6. Race: Mister Chancer - Midnight Tuesday - Bermuda Boy
7. Race: The Wexfordian - Southsea Island - Go Odee Go