5 more poor meetings today

low level racing at all 5 fixtures today, but the good news is that the weather has now stabilised, so the going is now good, there are far fewer non-runners than in the last two days and some large fields as well. This is particularly true at the Irish meeting at Navan where 140 runners are engaged in the 8 races. The most interesting is Silver Concorde (Dermot Weld/ Pat Smullen) in the 2 mile maiden at 15.55 CET.This 6yo is running for the first time in a proper flat race, but looks a certainty on his form in bumpers (which count as N.H. races); he won the Cheltenham bumper and was runner-up at Punchestown, two Grade One events, and as his trainer is a past master at managing such performers, we expect him to win easily enough today. The other interesting race here is the mile maiden for 2yo´s at 16.55, with runners from some of the top stables, notably 3 trained by Aidan O´Brien. His son Joseph partners debutant Giovanni Canaletto, a brother to Derby winner Ruler of the World (9th in Sunday´s Arc).
In the U.K. there is flat racing at Nottingham in the afternoon and on the all-weather at Kempton this evening. Nottingham is regarded as one of the best tracks in the country, and plenty of top trainers like to start their better 2yo´s off there. They have plenty of opportunity today, as the first 5 races are all for this age group. Having said that, our main fancies are for 2yo´s that have already run- Stoked (Ed Walker/ George Baker) at 16.20 and Rewritten (Charlie Appleby/ Ryan Moore) half an hour later.
Fields at the two N.H. meetings, Ludlow and Towcester are much smaller and also lower in quality. German-bred Sternrubin (Philip Hobbs/ Richard Johnson),. from a top Wittekindshof family, can win the opening 3yo hurdle at 15.00 at Ludlow.

Betting forecast Navan:
1. Race: Chiclet - Beauty`s Forte - Danz Gift
2. Race: Blueberry Gal - Lily`s Prince - Sweetest Taboo
3. Race: Silver Concorde - Ruby Tuesday - Owega Star
4. Race: Gussy Goose - Diamond Bangle - Bocca Baciata
5. Race: Giovanni Canaletto - Dragon Gate - Jinsha Lake
6. Race: Nancy Rose - Sli Na Fiarana - Lonan
7. Race: Callistan - Bazaar - Solar Focus
8. Race: Ceylon - Nanamour - Corona Borealis

5 poor meetings today

the usual poor fare on a Tuesday, further complicated by the heavy rain which hit many parts yesterday. Of today´s tracks, Brighton was the worst affected, and the going will be very soft there, and of course there are lots of non-runners as a result. In general one should avoid Brighton at the best of times and after rain, even more so, but we like the look of Andrew Balding´s two runners, Stybba (Harry Bentley) at 16.50 and On Demand (Thomas Brown) an hour later. Balding continues in great form and has a good strike rate here. Balding could also finish the day on a high note by saddling Daylight (Oisin Murphy) to take the final race at kempton´s evening meeting at 21.35.

The only race above class 4 level is the mile handicap at 17.10 at Leicester, where they have not had much rain and the going is still good/ good to firm in places. Ironically we would prefer soft going for our selection there, Cordite (Mike Appleby/ Alistair Rawlinson); he ran a shocker last time, but we have not forgotten his good run in the German 2,000 Guineas. The obvious danger is top-weight Fire Ship (William Knight/ Andrea Atzeni), who has also been running well in good company. German-bred Knife Point (Hugo Palmer/ James Doyle) was just touched off last time at Newmarket and although he has been raised 4 lbs for that, can go one better here at 16.10.
Another German-bred with a chance is Cool Baranca (Dianne and Emma Sayer) in the stayers handicap at 16.30 at Catterick. Jolie Blonde (Sir Mark Prescott/ Luke Morris) is a red-hot favourite here, having won easily on his seasonal debut 8 days ago; she has a 6 lbs penalty, but won with much more in hand. She could well win, but Cool Baranca, always ridden by the trainer´s daughter, has pelnty of winning form- both on the flat and over jumps- and looks a good each-way bet.
In Ireland, there is a jumps card at Tipperary. Rubyx Walsh made a winning comeback on Sunday and again has just one ride: Willie Mullins´ Morning Run in the mares maiden hurdle at 15.25. She won all three of her bumpers in good style and can remain unbeaten - and so can her jockey for this season.


Betting forecast:
1. Race: Looking Good - Intimation - Star Of Seville
2. Race: Sympathy - Sea Scent - Tutti Frutti
3. Race: Desert Snow - Knife Point - Serena Grae
4. Race: Les Gar Gan - Exclusive Contract - Canary Lad
5. Race: Bold Prediction - Fire Ship - Cordite
6. Race: Tahchee - Native Falls - Birdie Queen
7. Race: New Identity - Semblance - Nathr
8. Race: Keene`s Pointe - Iggy - It`s A Yes From Me

rain today

there is quite a bit of rain forecast today for the U.K., which means that the ground may be much softer than expected. There are also bound to be some non-runners and conditions are not good for punting, so we advise punters to keep their stakes to a minimum, especially as the racing is very low quality at all 3 meetings.

The best race of the day is the conditions event over an extended 2 miles at 16.40 CET at Pontefract. Two trainers who are currently in good form each have two runners engaged, Sir Mark Prescott and David O´Meara. and we prefer Big Thunder (Luke Morris) and Repeater (Danny Tudhope) respectively, especially as they are the choice of the stable jockeys. However the one to beat is surely Statutory (Saeed bin Suroor/ Freddie Tylicki), who has been running respectably in much better company and was a very easy winner of this race last year, when trained by Mark Johnston. The same trainer can also win the mile handicap for 3yo´s half an hour earlier with Monayyaz; Ahmad al Subousi, who has partnered him to both his victories, is in the saddle again.

Vinzenz Schiergen is one of the best amateurs around; his mount in the Fegentri race at 14.50 at Windsor, Luke Dace´s Speedy Rio, has dreadful form figures and has finished last on his last four outings; however this is such a bad race that he could still run well here at a big price. We also like Christopher Wren (Nick Gifford/ Jamie Spencer) in the 1 1/2 mile handicap at 16.50.. He is coming off a break, but won over this CD in April and also had some good form over hurdles last year. He is suited by exaggerated waiting tactics - Spencer´s speciality.

The racing at Stratford is very poor, but Decimus (Jeremy Scott/ Matt Griffiths) might be able to defy top weight in the handicap chase at 16.00. He looked very tricky when winning over fences last time, but is reasonably handicapped on his hurdles form and is one of the most unexposed runners in the field.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Ventura Castle - Mythical City - Oregon Gift
2. Race: Use Your Filbert - Fingal`s Cave - Russian Heroine
3. Race: Dream Spirit - Momayyaz - Potent Embrace
4. Race: Repeater - Statutory - Alwilda
5. Race: Mr Mclaren - Rangi Chase - Pigeon Pie
6. Race: Westerly - Lucky Jim - Where`s Tiger
7. Race: Isabella Bird - Fallen In Line - Dubai Star