Slowfoot debut over hurdles

The most interesting runner from the German point of view at today´s 3 U.K. meetings is Slowfoot (Jim Best/ AP McCoy), who makes his hurdles debut at 15.05 CET at Plumpton. When trained by Markus Klug he had very useful form in Germany, including at group and listed level, and he is easily the best of today´s runners on flat form. If he can jump hurdles, he should go very close, with Keys (Tony Carroll/ Daryl Jaconb) and Santa´s Secret (Oliver Sherwood/ Leighton Aspell), who have both shown form over sticks, the main threats. The rest of the Plumpton card is unappealing, with very small fields and the ground will again be very testing.

The going at Ayr is also heavy. In form trainer Nicky Richards could land a double here with his only 2 runners of the day -Duke of Navan at 15.50, who on all known form should beat his two opponents with the greatest of ease, and Mister Marker half an hour later, both partnered by Brian Harding. The latter has run a couple of stinkers this season, but if anywhere near his best, should outclass these opponents under top weight.

Easily the best horse running at Wolverhampton´s all-weather meeting is the Godolphin filly Dream Child (Charlie Appleby/ Kevin Stott), who must concede 13 lbs or more to her 4 opponents in the mares handicap at 18.00. She clearly loves the new tapeta surface and is unbeaten in 4 starts here, 3 of them over today´s distance of 9 furlongs. The handicapper has put her on quite a demanding rating, but if she is up to running in black type races, as connections seem to think, then she should be capable of scoring again today.