Group and graded races at Tipperary

Obviously flat racing takes a back seat today and all 3 U.K.meetings are over jumps. There are plenty of non-runners and some small fields as well, so that they are not so interesting for betting purposes, especially when compared to the goings-on at Longchamp. The best race is the handicap chase at 17.25 CET at Kelso; Simply Ned (Nicky Richards/ Brian Harding) is the class act here, but we feel that the handicapper has overreacted to his two good places in smart company and we doubt that her can concede so much weight to some useful rivals. Kumbeshwar (Lucinda Russell/ Peter Buchanan) is having his first race for new connections, is coming off a break, but is well handicapped on his old form and is our selection.

There is much better racing in Ireland where there is both a group race on the flat and three graded races over jumps at Tipperary. Dermot Weld has bigger fish to fry today, but he can pick up the Concorde Stakes at 15.40 with Big Break (Liam Roche). Rebel Fitz (Michael Winters/ Barry Geraghty) has won 17 of his 27 starts and been runner-up 7 times; he seems equally at home over sticks and fences and recently won the flat as well and has an obvious chance in the Istabraq Hurdle at 16.50. Istabraq was of course owned by JP McManus and he has prospects of winning the novice hurdle half an hour later with either Tony Martin`s Cillians Return or Aidan O´Brien´s Draco (another trainer who will be in Paris!)

Ruby Walsh makes his comeback today after his bad fall at Cheltenham. He partners Indevan for Willie Mullins in the novice chase at 18.25 and obviously everybody will be hoping that he makes a winning return to action.