N.H. racing at Carlisle, Ludlow and Fairyhouse (Ireland)

inspections at all 3 N.H. meetings today, but while Ludlow seems certain to go ahead, there are still slight doubts at Carlisle and at the Irish meeting at Fairyhouse. At Ludlow, the mares handicap hurdle at 16.00 CET looks very open.Consistent Roof (Alan King/ Rpbert Thornton) and Covert Mission (David Evans/ Andrew Glassonbury) should be thereabouts, while Irish raider Present Gesture (Gordon Elliott/ Tony McCoy) is an obvious threat, but we have a sneaking each-way fancy for bottom-weight Pearl (Alison Thorpe/ Johnny Farrelly), whose stable has had a couple of long-priced winners recently. "Choc" Thornton is making his comeback after injury today, and however he fares in ths race, he has a good chance of taking the handicap chase at 17.00 with Nikos Extra, very unlucky when badly hampered at Southwell on Monday, when he was hot favourite for a similar race.

Ex-Irish Noble Crusader (Richard Lee/ Oliver Greenall), who trotted up over 2 miles here on his first start for this trainer is the obvious danger. Nicky Henderson saddles two runners in the maiden hurdle an hour later, with bumper winner Benarctic, the choice of stable jockey Barry Geraghty, presumably his main chance. Divy (George Baker/ Andrew Tinkler) noted staying on well when runner-up in a big field last time, is the each-way alternative.
Should racing go ahead at Carlisle, two likely winners are Diklers Oscar (Keith and James Revely) in the novice hurdle at 15.10 and Silk Drum (Howard Johnson/ Brian Hughes) in the novice chase at 16.15. The Reveleys also have prospects with Its Teescomponents, who has won 3 of her last 5 races, in the handicap chase at 17.15, but this one has gone up a lot in the weights, so it will not be so easy this time.

On Ireland, the best race is the novice chase at 15.50. The consistent Apt Approach (Willie Mullins/ Ruby Walsh) was runner-up to the smart Roberto Goldback last time and finished 1-2 on his last 5 starts; he is just preferred to Whatuthink (Oliver McKiernan/ Davy Condon), who has running in better races. Wash can double up on Tony Martin´s Saddlers Storm, a very easy CD winner last time, in the handicap chase half an hour later.

Market Rasen and Southwell

There is quite a decent field for the 4yo hurdle at 14.30 CET at Market Rasen, but Blue Nymph (John Quinn/ Dougie Costello) scored in such good style at Doncaster last time that it will take a smart one to beat him. The novice hurdle half an hour later looks much more open. Nicky Henderson runs two here, Ranjobaie (David Bass) and Proud Presence (Tony McCoy) and anything from this yard must be respected, but Bygones of Bird (Karen McClintock/ Timmy Murphy) is the form choice here, while Teenage Kicks (Pam Sly/ Warren Marston) is a very interesting debutant.

The handicap chase at 16.30 is another open affair. Top-weight Carrickmines (Dr. Newland/ Tom Weston) is very consistent and should be at least placed, while Donald Will Do (Caroline Bailey/ Andrew Thornton) is also in good form, but very rarely wins. Perhaps McCoy can take this on Mocho from the in-form Ian Williams stable.
Southwell, which staged a jumping card yesterday, now reverts to all-weather racing with a modest programme. The best race is the 6 furlongs handicap at 16.50, which can go to Harlech Castle (Jim Boyle/ Steven Craine). He has won his last two races, both over this CD, and can complete a hat-trick; on both occasions he finished in front of Onceupontime (Michael Squance/ Luke Morris), who has won since and thus meets him on worse terms now. Barry Hills has few runners here, but he saddles top-weight Billie Jean in the 3yo handicap over 5 furlongs at 15.30 with son Michael on the saddle; they have Turf Time (Jeremy Glover/ Chris Catlin) to beat. Otherwise it could pay to follow Mark Johnston, whose current strike rate is amazing. He has two runners here: Loveinthesand in the maiden at 16.20 and Always Dixie an hour later in the mile handicap for 3yo´s, both ridden by Joe Fanning. They are clearly not the brightest stars in this huge yard but could still be able to defeat today´s modest opposition.

Fairyhouse and Sedgefield

Both Fairyhouse and Sedgefield have passed an early morning inspection and racing is on at both tracks. Ruby Walsh, as so often, looks the jockey to follow at the Irish track. He can win the novice hurdle at 15.25 CET on Willie Mullins´ Arvika Ligeonniere, the handicap hurdle at 16.25 on Tony Martin´s ex-German Le Marquis and the handicap chase at 17.25 on his father´s Seabass. He should also go close in the beginners chase at 16.55 with Mullins´ Kempes, but here we prefer Nicanor (Noel Meade/ Paul Carberry); both were smart hurdlers but on overall form Nicanor should have the edge.

The going will be very heavy at Sedgefield, but that should not stop Tilt (Brian Ellison/ Keith Mercer) from defying a penalty in the novice hurdle at 15.40; he was quite useful on the flat and has shown talent over hurdles. The beginners chase here at 16.10 has only 5 runners, but looks quite tight. Ferdy Murphy has his team in good form, so Riguez Dancer( Graham Lee) should be involved, but Middleton Dene (Rose Dobbin/ Keith Renwick), who has been off since October, stays well, goes on the heavy and was the better over sticks, so he is the selection.