jumps racing at Catterick and Ludlow

racing steps up a gear today and there is interesting jumps racing - with larger and more competitive fields- at both Catterick and Ludlow. The top race of the day is the Boyne Cup a handicap chase over an extended 3 miles at 15.10 CET at Ludlow, in which Roll The Dice )(Philip Hobbs/ Richard Johnson), from a stable having a ttremendous run, is likely to start favourite. He has run well on all his 3 seasonal starts but we are not sure that he really stays this trip and would rather go against him. Gorsky Island (Tom George/ Paddy Brennan) won nicely over this CD 20 days ago; that was his first ever success and he can go on from there, but it is worth noting that Abbeygrey (Evan Williams/ Adam Wedge) was only just over a length behind and is now 5 lbs better off. Kingsmere (Henry >Daly/ Jake Greenall), who has been hudling, is also on the short list. We have a similsr situation half an hour later when Vivaccio (Venetia Williams/ Aidan Coleman) attempts to follow up his easy win here that same day. Bonobo (Evan Williams/ Paul Moloney) was beaten quite a long way but is now 12 lbs better off and a definite danger.

It is very unusual for Nicky Henderson to have runners at Catterick, but he sends two to the Yorkshire track today - Cocktails at Dawn (Andrew Tinkler) in the beginners chase at 14.50 and Taylor (Daryl Jacob) in the mares novice hurdle half an hour later. Both were runners-up last time and can go one better today, although they will both be at quite short odds. Ex-German Birthday Guest (Philip Kirby/ Adam Nicol) runs in the opening handicap hurdle at 13.20, He won 5 races on the flat for Christian von der Recke, but has shown very little in his 6 starts in the U.K.; however his third last form was not too bad in the context of this race and he could run a big race at a long price. Veteran CD specialist Patavium (Edwin Tuer/ Tony Kelly) is another to keep an eye on in the same event.
Unfortunately there are very small fields in the main events at the two all-weather meetings, with only 4 showing up for the 10 furlongs conditions race at 15.00 at Lingfield. All 4 are quite decent, and although on official ratinhs he is actually worst in, we choose Brazilian-bred Energia Davos (Marco Botti/ Martin Harley), who has always threatened to win a race on this standard and ran really well in a strong listed race over this CD last time.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Moss Street - Stentorian - Desert Recluse
2. Race: Shinooki - Etania - Ronnie Lawson
3. Race: Mystery Drama - Stephanie Frances - Cloudante
4. Race: Gorsky Island - Abbeygrey - Roll The Dice
5. Race: Vivaccio - Oyster Shell - Uriah Heep
6. Race: Miss Lucky Penny - Mac Bertie - Lukes Hill
7. Race: The Clonlisk Bug - Timon`s Tara - The Hon Mackinlay