N.H. racing at Taunton and Ludlow

More low level racing at today´s two British N.H. meetings. The best race is the Forbra Gold Cup, a handicap chase over 3 miles at 17.00 CET at Ludlow, but this historic event has attracted a substandard field. A big problem here is that hardly any of the 9 runners has ever shown good form over today´s distance. Pigeon Island (Nigel Twiston-Davies/ Paddy Brennan) has the best form, having won the Grand Annual at last year´s Cheltenham Festival, but that was over 2 miles. Just Smudge (Venetia Williams/ Aidan Coleman), Max Bygraves (Kim Bailey/ Sean Quinlan) and The Snail (Evan Williams/ Paul Moloney) have all shown decent form at this track over shorter distances, so we shall take a chance on No Panic (Peter Bowen/ Tom O´Brien), who has had a short break but is guaranteed to stay the trip.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: The Cockney Mackem - Flichity - Glendue
2. Race: Phidippides - Hector`S Choice - Maraafeq
3. Race: Havingotascoobydo - Lobby Ludd - Lexicon Lad
4. Race: Calusa Caldera - Isn`T That Lucky - Max Bygraves
5. Race: Calusa Shadow - Whispering Jack - Sawpit Solitaire
6. Race: Sea Wall - Martha`S Kinsman - Silver Story
7. Race: Little Fritz - Parsnip Pete - Milaneen




There could be a German-bred winner at Taunton, as First Smash (Milton Harris/ Jimmy Derham) must have a chance in the handicap hurdle at 17.20 off a low weight. The Monsun gelding is no world-beater and is still a maiden in the U.K., but he kept on well when 4th of 10 here last time, and the extra two furlongs today should be to his advantage.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Merehead - Romulus D`Artaix - Henry King
2. Race: Patsy Finnegan - Earth Planet - Erzen
3. Race: Round Tom - Kaybeew - Molly Round
4. Race: Kirbys Glen - Catholic Hill - Laneguy
5. Race: Prince Of Denial - Lucy`S Perfect - Laustra Bad
6. Race: Whizzaar - Chesnut Annie - Mustangsallyrally
7. Race: Mut`Ab - Monsieur - Storm Command

N.H. racing at Bangor, Folkestone and Downpatrick (Ireland)

Donald McCain is usually the trainer to follow at Bangor, his local track, and today he has runners in 6 of the 7 races. In our opinion, Empress Orchid in the mares novice hurdle at 15.20 CET, Jimmy the Saint in the novice hurdle at 17.50 and Jackson Cage in the bumper half an hour later have the best chances; stable jockey Jason Maguire rides the first two, and claimer Henry Brooke the last-named. Except for the bumper, all races here today over hurdles, as the chase course is still unfit for racing. We also like Numide (Rod Millman/ Johnny Farrelly) in the handicap at 16.50 and are interested in the chances of German-bred Sullomo (Charlie Mann/ Peter Toole) in the 3 mile hurdle race at 17.20; the Acatenango gelding has been below form the last few starts but has dropped to a very nice weight and is a dual CD winner.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Empress Orchid - Bellaboosh - Tanzanite Bay
2. Race: Copsehill Girl - Bounds And Leaps - Overnight Fame
3. Race: Antoella - Miereveld - Baraathen
4. Race: Devotion To Duty - Drill Sergeant - Numide
5. Race: Pie At Midnight - Barrie Burn - Kauto The Roc
6. Race: Jimmy The Saint - Alone They Stand - Non Dom
7. Race: Jackson Cage - Whistle Me - Sole Survivor




Another Acatenango running today is Guarino (Gary and Jamie Moore) in the maiden hurdle at 15.10 at Folkestone, but he has shown very little so far and will probably dislike the heavy going; another German-bred Super Directa (Lucy Wadham/ Dominic Elsworth) is our selection here. Main event here is the Kent National, a handicap chase over 3 miles 7 furlongs, which was won last year by Noble Bily (Neil King/ Alex Merriam); he is in the field again and, having proven his liking for these conditions, can score again for his in-form stable.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Cozy Tiger - Super Directa - Alonso De Guzman
2. Race: Addiction - Victrix Gale - Mekong Miss
3. Race: Watergate - Rince Donn - Bearneen Boy
4. Race: Get Ready To Go - Little Al - Graduation Night
5. Race: Rate Of Knots - Victory Gunner - Dunkelly Castle
6. Race: Blue Dark - Supa Tramp - Jazz Attack
7. Race: Arbeo - Getaway Driver - Great Kicker




These "Nationals" are popular at the moment and the main feature at Downpatrick is the Ulster Grand National at 16.45. This has a maximum field of 15 and looks wide open. Bally Wall (Ian Ferguson/ Andrew Lynch) was runner-up here a year ago and should go close again, but we prefer his stable companion Posh Bird (Keith Donoghue), while The Book Thief and The Flying Dustman have chances on form but are stepping up on trip.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Mayo Mystique - Couleur De La Loi - Henro Boy
2. Race: Belle Brook - Streamtown - Three Monkeys
3. Race: Arctic Mick - Akadyr - Breeze With Ease
4. Race: Bally Wall - Supreme Builder - The Flying Dustman
5. Race: Kanesh - Island Peak - Leaders Mate
6. Race: Nutin Fancy - All Great N Theory - Noble Steel

Ffos Las, Leicester and Lingfield

Once again very poor sport today, and in addition there are very small fields at all 3 meetings, so bettng opportunities are few and far between. At Ffos Las, Nicky Henderson´s Ruthenoise (David Bass), difficult to place over hurdles following her excellent effort gainst Binocular in January, makes her chasing debut at 16.20 CET. If she runs up to her best form, she can hardly lose at these weights, with Thumbs Up (Donald McCain/ Jason Maguire) likely to follow her home. McCain and Maguire have another chance at 17.30, but here we prefer Patman du Charmil (Nigel and Sam Twiston-Davies), who came back to form with an easy win last time at Southwell and is still very nicely handicapped on his old form.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Timesawastin - Alonso De Guzman - Storm Survivor
2. Race: Body Gold - Border Lad - Jewellery
3. Race: Ruthenoise - Thumbs Up - Holoko Heights
4. Race: Dipity Doo Dah - Crannaghmore Boy - Nobby Kivambo
5. Race: Patman Du Charmil - Horsford - Dead Or Alive
6. Race: Canal Bank - Quiet Bob - Marias Rock
7. Race: Sertao - Bathwick Brave - Toreador




Tony McCoy is in action at Leicester, where he has two rides for Jonjo O`Neill, Galaxy Rock in the novice chase at 17.10 and City Theatre in the handicap chase at 18.15, but with the stable out of form, punters are advised ti be careful. Even so, it is hard to see the former getting beaten in this company. In the latter event Ours (Mark Rimell/ Peter Toole) who is in good form and gets 14 lbs from McCoy´s mount, may be able to win.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Karasakal - The Darling Boy - Playing With Fire
2. Race: Duke Of Ormond - Master D`Or - Billy Murphy
3. Race: Chord - French Ties - Ballyman
4. Race: Galaxy Rock - Not So Prudent - Hommage A Bach
5. Race: Over The Phone - Thirtytwo Red - Drom
6. Race: Ours - City Theatre - Persian Gates




At Lingfield´s all-weather meeting we expect bottom-weight Frameit (James Given/ Franny Norton) to go close in the 2 mile handicap at 16.10. Later on, Andrew Balding and David Probert can land a double with Viking Dancer and Queen o´ the Desert in the maiden races at 17.20 and 17.55 respectively. The well-bred Viking Dancer has not run for 17 months, but if anywhere near peak fitness should be too strong for the last-time-out runner-up Bosambo, while York Glory looks the danger to Queen o´ the Desert.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Jack`S Revenge - Bodie - Crown Ridge
2. Race: A Little Bit Dusty - Cool Luke - Ad Vitam
3. Race: Frameit - Kahfre - Rosewood Lad
4. Race: Bollywood Style - Ymir - Katmai River
5. Race: Bosambo - Uncle Dermot - Viking Dancer
6. Race: Queen O`The Desert - York Glory - Fairy Tales
7. Race: Very Well Red - Shaded Edge - Crazy Parachute