Newcastle and Leicester

two low level jumps meetings today, at Newcastle and Leicester, and two more on the all-weather at Chelmsford and Kempton (evening). The most interesting race over jumps is the novice hurdle that opens the card at 14.50 CET at Newcastle, where easy last-time-out winners Fascino Rustico (Dan and Harry Skelton) and Zip Top (John Ferguson/ AP McCoy) should fight out the finish despite their 7 lbs penalty. Both are very promising types that look as if they are going places, and we give slight preference to Zip Top, who finished runner-up to Camelot in the 2011 Racing Post Trophy and can profit from his superior flat ability. McCoy´s only other mount here is the unraced Monsun gelding High Bridge, also for Ferguson, in the bumper at 17.20 and this one must also be respected. Another team that might land a double is Michael and Tom Scudamore, who can take the 15.20 with No Through Road (raised no less than 42 lbs after winning 5 of his last 6 starts but still likely to continue his winning run) and Dan Emmett at 16.50. It has been raining at Newcadstle, but we hope it stops soon, as our fancy, the German-bred Amore Mio (Lucinda Russell/ Ryan Nichol), would not want it too heavy; his young jockey is still a maiden but has been well taught.

At Leicester, the handicap hurdle at 16.30 looks tricky, with all 6 runners holding a chance; Seven Summits (Sophie Leech/ Paul Moloney), another runner with a top flat pedigree, looks nicely weighted here, and as his trainer had a winner yesterday, perhaps he can follow up. The handicap chase over the same trip of 2 1/2 miles half an hour later looks equally open; Tafika (Paul Webber/ Charlie Poste) is relatively lightly-raced for his age, was runner-up on both his 2014 starts and can possibly go one better now.

The best race on the all-weather is the 6 furlongs handicap at 16.10. Although the track only reopened a fortnight ago, Guishan (Mike Appleby/ Liam Jones) is already a CD winner and has a good chance under a fixed 6 lbs penalty. However Pretend (Charlie Appleby - no relation/ Adam Kirby) looks different class to these and should win. He won twice over 5 furlongs at Wolverhampton in December but should have no problem with the extra furlong here.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Fascino Rustico - Zip Top - Delta Forty
2. Race: No Through Road - Silverton - Little Glenshee
3. Race: Macgillycuddy - Whichwaytobougie - Amore Mio
4. Race: Up And Go - Scimon Templar - Cobajayisland
5. Race: Dan Emmett - Lovely Job - Gilnockie
6. Race: High Bridge - Mahler Lad - Corsair Prince