Thousand Stars to Shine

As usual for a Sunday, the best racing today comes from Ireland and the best horse running today is Thousand Stars (Willie Mullins/ Ruby Walsh) in the Ballsbridge Hurdle over 2 1/4 miles at 15.50 CET at Leopardstown; he is coming off a break and has not won since taking the French Champion Hurdle 21 months ago, but has not faced such poor opposition for ages and it will be a surprise if he cannot win today.

He should complete a double for his team, as the Aga Khan-bred Shamsikhan should take the opening maiden hurdle at 15.20. The big betting race here is the 2 miles 5 furlongs handicap chase at 17.20. Big owner JP McManus has 3 runners here, Double Seven (Martin Brassil/ Mark Walsh), who has not run since winning 5 times in a row last summer/ early autumn, the lightly-weighted Knocklong /Christy Roche/ Alan Crowe) and top-weight Colbert Street, the choice of Tony McCoy. Colbert Street was McCoý´s mount in the Grand National last year and presumably will be again if he can convince trainer Ted Walsh today. We think that he can and make him our selection. McCoy can follow up half an hour later with another JP McManus-owned handicapper Down Under (Francis Flood) weho can follow up in the same race he won a year ago.

The cards at the two U.K. tracks racing today are very low grade. Sue Smith continues in good form and should be the trainer to follow at Sedgefield.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Shamsikhan - Emperor Of Exmoor - Lilly Of The Moor
2. Race: Midnight Game - Sailors Warn - Busty Brown
3. Race: Bendanella - Gift Of Dgab - Star Of Aragon
4. Race: Moscow Mannon - Mallowney - Mount Colah
5. Race: Double Seven - He`Llberemembered - Daring Article
6. Race: Easy Vic - Down Under - Boss Croaker
7. Race: Aminabad - Never Never - Rockingham Bay