Listed race in Ireland this evening

5 meetings today, but almost all at a very low level. By far the best race of the day is the listed race over 1 1/2 miles at 21.30 CET at Roscommon. Ursa Major (Johnny Murtagh/ Fergal Lynch) has the highest official rating, but that is due to his 4th place in the 2012 St. Leger. He missed all of last season and on nhis comeback was well behind the consistent Qewy (John Oxx/ Declan McDonogh).Three-year-olds have a good record here and we doubt that the penalised Qewy can concede so much weight to Balisarius (Aidan O´Brien/ Seamus Heffernan) and especially Ebeyina (Dermot Weld/ Pat Smullen); the Aga Khan´s filly gets all the allowances, and although she is unproven at the trip, we hope she wins.

In the U.K. there are some small fields, even over sprint distances, with only 5 runners in Ayr´s 5 furlongs handicap at 18.00. Jinky (Linda Perrett/ George Chaloner) won here yesterday over 6 furlongs, and if he turns out again under a penalty could go close again. But top-weight Algar Lad (David O´Meara/ Danny Tudhope), a real distance specialist and 6th in the Gosforth Cup at Newcastle .last time, looks the one to beat.

There is another small field for Ripon´s 6 furlongs handicap for 3yo´s at 21.10. 3 of the 6 runners are last-time-out winners, with preference for top-weight Telmeyd, who can continue William Haggas´ good run under Seb Sanders. The best betting race of the day is the 3 1/4 miles handicap chase at Newton Abbot at 16.45. Paul Nicholls has sent a strong team and has an obvious chance of taking this with Merrion Square (Sam Twiston-Davies); but he has to give 16 lbs to Sheriff Hutton (Martin Hill/ Tom Scudamore), who was third in this last year and looks very nicely handicapped here.