5 more poor meetings today

low level racing at all 5 fixtures today, but the good news is that the weather has now stabilised, so the going is now good, there are far fewer non-runners than in the last two days and some large fields as well. This is particularly true at the Irish meeting at Navan where 140 runners are engaged in the 8 races. The most interesting is Silver Concorde (Dermot Weld/ Pat Smullen) in the 2 mile maiden at 15.55 CET.This 6yo is running for the first time in a proper flat race, but looks a certainty on his form in bumpers (which count as N.H. races); he won the Cheltenham bumper and was runner-up at Punchestown, two Grade One events, and as his trainer is a past master at managing such performers, we expect him to win easily enough today. The other interesting race here is the mile maiden for 2yo´s at 16.55, with runners from some of the top stables, notably 3 trained by Aidan O´Brien. His son Joseph partners debutant Giovanni Canaletto, a brother to Derby winner Ruler of the World (9th in Sunday´s Arc).
In the U.K. there is flat racing at Nottingham in the afternoon and on the all-weather at Kempton this evening. Nottingham is regarded as one of the best tracks in the country, and plenty of top trainers like to start their better 2yo´s off there. They have plenty of opportunity today, as the first 5 races are all for this age group. Having said that, our main fancies are for 2yo´s that have already run- Stoked (Ed Walker/ George Baker) at 16.20 and Rewritten (Charlie Appleby/ Ryan Moore) half an hour later.
Fields at the two N.H. meetings, Ludlow and Towcester are much smaller and also lower in quality. German-bred Sternrubin (Philip Hobbs/ Richard Johnson),. from a top Wittekindshof family, can win the opening 3yo hurdle at 15.00 at Ludlow.

Betting forecast Navan:
1. Race: Chiclet - Beauty`s Forte - Danz Gift
2. Race: Blueberry Gal - Lily`s Prince - Sweetest Taboo
3. Race: Silver Concorde - Ruby Tuesday - Owega Star
4. Race: Gussy Goose - Diamond Bangle - Bocca Baciata
5. Race: Giovanni Canaletto - Dragon Gate - Jinsha Lake
6. Race: Nancy Rose - Sli Na Fiarana - Lonan
7. Race: Callistan - Bazaar - Solar Focus
8. Race: Ceylon - Nanamour - Corona Borealis