7 meetings today

Lots of racing today, Easter Saturday, but much of it at a low level. There is a strong N.H. card at Haydock, and much weaker ones at Newton Abbot and Carlisle, with very small fields there as well. Flat racing includes the traditional Easter meeting at Kempton as well as Nottingham and Bath, both with a late start, as well Cork in Ireland., With good weather all over, the ground is firming up and punters should take this into their calculations, as soft ground specialists will not find conditions to their liking.

The most interesting events are at Haydock, but the first 6 races are all handicaps and very tricky ones at that. Even the ones with small fields are tricky, although we like Oyster Shell (Henry Daly/ Jake Greenall) at 14.30 CET and Red Rocco (Nigel and Sam Twiston-Davies) at 16.50. Donald McCain is always a man to watch here, and we like both Our Mick /Richard Johnson) at 15.05 and Bourne (Adrian Lane) at 15.40; they have been out of form and have come down a long way in the weights. There are 19 runners in the 2 3/4 miles handicap chase at 16.15, which looks very difficult indeed; we shall take a chance on Munsaab (Chaflie Longsdon/ Paul Moloney), who seems very nicely handicapped off joint bottom weight.

The Queen´s Prize, to be run at 18.05 at Kempton, used to be a significant race but is now just an ordinary 2 mile handicap; Noble Silk (Lucy Wadham/ Oisin Murphy) is weighted to get the better of Clowance Estate (Roger Charlton/ Jamie Spencer) this time and is our selection. The main feature here is the listed race for older fillies and mares at 15.55, which should go to Zurigha (Richard Hannon/ Ryan Moore); Ribbons (James Fanshawe/ Hayley Turner) looks the only serious danger. The owner´s contracted jockey Frankie Dettori rides Hannon´s Midnite Angel in the trace for 3yo fillies at 17.00, with Moore partnering William Haggas` Queen of Ice; These two should have the race to themselves, while the colts race at 17.35 can go to God Willing (Ed Dunlop/ Jamie Spencer).

There is also a listed race for fillies at Bath this evening, over 5 furlongs at 20.00. Clear top-rated here is Ladies are Forever (Geoff Oldroyd/ Robert Tart), whio beat the good German sprinter Gracia Directa (winner yesterday) in York´s Summer Stakes. That form should be good enough here, with Lilbourne Lass (Karl Burke/ Martin Lane), twice successful over this CD, and Caledonia Lady (Jo Hughes/ Liam Jónes), third here last year, next best.