Listed chase in Ireland

Today´s top race is the listed chase over 2 1/4 miles at Thurles at 14.25 CET. Mount Colah (JG Cosgrave/ Mr N McParlan), who is always ridden by this amateur, is the clear form choice here. He has to give weight away all round but is clear top-rated and won in good style last time. Arnaud (Charlie Byrnes/ Bryan Cooper), bidding to continue Gigginstown´s winning run, and Letter of Credit (JJ Mangan/ PT Enright), runner-up here last year, and the two most likely to follow him home.

In the U.K. there is jumping at Lingfield (heavy going) and Musselburgh (good to soft) as well as a very poor all-wearher card at Wolverhampton.John Ferguson can continue his good run with ex-flat horses in the maiden hurdle at 14.00 at the Scottish track with Jalingo (Brian Hughes), but Glinockle (James Ewart/ Jake Greenall), also runner-up on his hurdling debut, could be a danger, as well as multiple flat winner Ginger Jack (Keith Dalgleish/ Keith Renwick) on his debut over sticks. Philip Hobbs has sent Royal Player (Richard Johnson) on the long journey from Somerset to contest the 3 mile handicap chase at 16.00 and he has an obvious chance, however we wonder whether he can concede so much weight to Island Heights (Lucinda Russell/ Craig Nichol).

In the extreme conditions expected at Lingfield we like to concentrate on experienced oldtimers and therefore select KIng Edmund at 14.10 and Nozic at 15.40