Yesterday´ s rain causing problems

The heavy rain that fell at Epsom yesterday is certainly causing problems for today´s card, and although the weather has now improved, there are lots of non-runners on the very soft ground, and very small fields as a result. There are 6 non-runners in the 6 furlongs handicap at 16.25 CET, with Hopes ´n´Dreams (Kevin Ryan/ Jimmy Fortune) on top weight. He won 5 races last year, including this one, on all sorts of going; His form this year has ben less good, but the stable is in form and if he is anywhere near his best, he must go close in this company.

The other only racing this afternoon is at Ripon, where they have not had so much rain and consequently there are bigger fields, but there still quite a few non-runners, including 4 in the 10 furlongs handicap at 17.15. We shall take a chance here on Master of Finance (Mark Johnston/ Joe Fanning), who has generally been running in better company- including when third in the Swiss Derby.

There is racing this evening on the new tapte atrack at Wolverhamptpon, over jumps at Sedgefield and a mixed meetimng in Ireland, with 4 flat races followed by 4 over fences at Ballinrobe. Easily the best horse running here is Special Tiara (Henry de Bromhead/ Andrew Lynch) who goes for the 2 mile 1 furlong chase at 19.40. He won the Grade One novice chase at the Aintree Grand National Meeting 17 months ago, and although he has not won since, should certainly account for these opponents.