Heavy overnight rain

There has been heavy overnight rain in many parts of Britain and Ireland and the going will be significantly softer at most of today´s 6 meetings than forecast. Punters should certainly bear this in mind today.

Brighton has the only flat racing this afternoon and this is not a nice place to be in bad weather.The 10 furlongs handicap at 17.20 CET is the best race of the day - not that that is saying much- and all 8 runners are in with a chance. Boonga Roogeta (Peter Charalambous/ Rosie Jessop) won this last year and although put up for winning on the all-weather recently, is still well handicapped. He is not the most consistent, but runs his best races for this rider and must have decent prospects of winning again. Puzzle Times (Giles Bravery/ Richard Hiughes) and Elbereth (Andrew Balding/ David Probert), having his first race on turf, look the main dangers.

There is jumps racing this afternoon at Fakenham and Sedgefield, with some small fields, especially at the former track, where there are only 4 runners in the two main events. However the novice hurdle over 3 miles at 16.00 is still an interesting event. Driftashore( Andrew Turnell (Miss B Hampson) won a maiden race at Ffos Las last time, but now has to concede 6 lbs to Hunt Ball (Nicky Henderson/ Andrew Tinkler) and Shwaiman (Willie Jarvis/ Trevor Whelan), which may be beyond him. The latter has shown talent over hurdles and was a smart stayer on the flat, even running (unplaced!) in the Gold Cup; however the rain is not ideal and we easily prefer Hunt Ball, who has not shone over sticks so far but is a smart chaser and showed he was coming back to form when 4th of 30 off a high weight in the Topham at the Grand National Meeting at Aintree.

The card at Sedgefield is poor, but we like Urban Gale (Jodie Foster/ John Dawson) in the long distance handicap hurdle at 17.40; he is very slow, but so are all the others, but he is a CD winner and is one of the few who can be guaranteed to stay the trip in these conditions. Thos evening we expect German-bred Sternrubin to finally get his head in front after 4 second places in the maiden hurdle at 18.50 at Exeter, while in Ireland Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh - recently crowned Irish champions yet again- can continue their winning run at Ballinrobe. One of their main hopes is Totally Dominant at 19.40 and that name just about sums up their current position in Irish N.H. racing.

Brighton - betting forecast:
1. Race: Fujiano - Hurricane Alert - Margot Rose
2. Race: Chevallier - Major Pusey - Mrs Eve
3. Race: Mister Musicmaster - Ocean Legend - Sarangoo
4. Race: Pick A Little - Baileys En Premier - Admirable Art
5. Race: Puzzle Time - Lady Marl - Tears Of The Sun
6. Race: Iseemist - Royal Warrior - Ginzan
7. Race: Glennten - Polydamos - Tamujin