6 meetings today

6 meetings today, 3 this afternoon on the flat and 3 this evening over jumps, but once again all at a low level.
It could be significant that Sir Michael Stoute and Ryan Moore go to Yarmouth today with just one starter, Claim in the 3yo handicap over a mile at 16.10 CET; he finished a close 4th over this CD on his final start last year, and can start off the new season successfully. The most competitive race here is the 7 furlongs handicap half an hour later, in which we expect Swiss Cross (Phil McEntee/ Kieren Fallon) and Galician (Mark Johnston/ Silvestre de Sousa) to dominate; both ran very well last week and look ripe for a win.

Richard Hughes has made a tremendous start to the season and can continue with more winners at Lingfield today. He should certainly take the maiden race at 15.30 on Richard Hannon´ s World Record andf jhas several other promising rides, including David Evans´Verse of Love in the mile handicap at 16.00. Perversely we prefer Mia´s Boy (Chris Dwyer/ Robert Tart) here, although he was well behind Verse of Love last week. Mia´s Boy is a difficult ride who has to come with a late run and the race last week was not run to suit him.

At Bath, we hope to see Roanne (Clive Cox/ Adam Kirby) take the 3yo mile handicap at 17.20. Although unplaced in her 3 starts last season, she looks capable of great improvement this year. There are 2 runners here who have each won 4 races on the all-weather this year - Mubtabi (Ismael Mohammed/ Thomas Brown) at 17.50 and Picansort (Peter Crate/ Shane Kelly) half an hour later; both still look well handicapped and can score again this afternoon.

Over jumps this evening, we expect useful hurdler Brampour (Paul Nicholls/ Harry Derham) to get off to a winning start over fences in the beginners chase at 19.15 at Worcester. Nicholls could also have a winner Exeter, where Mr. Hudson (Daryl Jacob) runs in ther handocap chase at 19.35; he was a vetry useful novice, but had been offthe gtrack for over a xyear. The one to beat however is top-weight Problema Tic (David Pipe/ Kieron Edgar), who fell early on in the Scottish Grand National, but has mainly been racing in much better company. Robert Tyner looks the trainer to follow at the Irish meeting at Ballinrobe.

Yarmouth - betting forecast:
1. Race: Sunningdale Rose - Lady Lydia - Lilo Lil
2. Race: Baron Run - Clock Opera - Sixty Minutes
3. Race: Claim - George Cinq - Luck
4. Race: Galician - King Of Jazz - Swiss Cross
5. Race: Tahlia Ree - Malekat Jamal - Olney Lass
6. Race: Silver Alliance - Redoute Star - Laughing Jack
7. Race: Landesherr - Corn Maiden - Medieval Bishop

5 poor meetings today

There is rarely high-class racing on a Monday and today is no exception. We have two N.H. meetings, at Towcester and Kelso, two all-weather meetings, and the usual Monday evening racing from Windsor, but all at a very low level. Kim Bailey saddled 3 winners yesterday at Wetherby, and it is by no means impossible that he can repeat the feat today at Towcester. Able Deputy (Nick Scholfield) makes his chasing debut at 15.30 CET; he never managed to win over hurdles, but ran in quite decent company and was the best of these in that sphere.Quiet Whisper (Edsward Cookson) runs in the handicap hurdle at 16.00; he has been below form recently, but has come down a lot in the weights, is a CD winner and the good stable form might inspire him today. The main danger is Jameel (John Ferguson/ Joseph Akehurst), who was a winner on the flat for Godolphin and has shown some ability over hurdles. Scholfield also rides Twelve Roses in the novice hurdle at 17.00 and this very lightly-raced 5yo can score here oin his second attempt over the sticks.

At Kelso, we like course specialist Or de Grugy (Nick and Lucy Alexander) in the handicap chase over 3 1/ 4 miles at 16.40; he has never won at this distance, but neither have the others, and he has good form at 3 miles, especially at this track, which should suffice. We also like Potomac (Rose Dobbin/ Keith Renwick) in the maiden hurdle at 15.10; he is a half-brother to the good flat horse Edinburgh Knight and shaped well over this CD 3 weeks ago. Shaun Dobbin partners the stable´s Purcells Bridge at 16.10 and the team, who won at Catterick 8 weeks ago, can follow up here.

Few fireworks can be expected at the all-weather meetings at Wolverhampton and Lingfield. Sir Michael Stoute´s yard is coming into form and his Call Ahead (Pat Dobbs) is likely to start a hot favourite for the maiden race at 17.20 at the former track; at the likely odds we just prefer Cavalieri (Willie Jarvis/ Graham Lee) each way. The best race at Lingfield is the 7 furlongs handicap at 20.25. Net Whizz (Jeremy Noseda/ Ryan Moore) is the obviuous favourite hetre, but he has been off since November. Our each-way alternative is Forceful Appeal (Simon Dow/ Jamie Spencer), who is down in the weights after some poor performances at other tracks, but runs his best races here.

Richard Hannon and Richard Hughes are in great form and always do well at Windsor; they can take the first two races with Steventon Star at 18.40 and Caramack half an hour later. They also have good prospects with Duke of Clarence in the 10 furlongs handicap at 20.10, but this is a hot race with Hanseatic (John Gosden/ William Buick) the one to beat.

Windsor - betting forecast:
1. Race: Culdaff - Ding Ding - Mimi Luke
2. Race: Caramack - Evident - Pembroke
3. Race: Aficionado - Bedouin Invader - Sir Bedivere
4. Race: Hanseatic - Duke Of Clarence - Ishikawa
5. Race: Cousin Khee - Attwaal - Brown Pete
6. Race: Mallory Heights - Hello Sailor - Pivotal Silence

Gowran Park today

There is no flat racing in the U.K. today and the Irish meeting at Gowran Park is rather low key for a Sunday. Main event is the listed race for fillies over 9 1/2 furlongs at 17.40. Aloof (David ewachman/ Wayne Lirdan) won a Group Three over this CD last September, with Caponata (Dermot Weld/ Pat Smullen) a disappointing favourite. Although that is tzhe bdest form in the race, it woiuld be no surprise to see Weld´s filly tuzrn the tables this time. A danger to all is the 3yo We´ll Go Walking (Jim Bolger/ Kevin Manning), who won her only start in surprisingly easy fashion 3 weeks ago. That was here over 1 1/2 miles and she is certainly bred like a stayer, but the stable is in great form and she must also be feared over this shorter trip. She gets lots of weight from the older fillies, biut we shall stick with Weld and Smullen, who can also win the two following races, both maidens over the same trip, with Sharp Crisp Air at 18.10 and Ghaamer half an hour later. The handicaps have large fields and look too tricky, although it is interesting to see Aidan O´Brien have a runner rated 50 - Flower Bouquet, owned by his wife and ridden by his daughter Anastasia, who runs at 16.30. She is possibly the slowest horse in the yard but must still have a chance in this lowly company.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Cocktail Hour - Silver Lightening - Tobann
2. Race: Ondeafears - Maude Adams - Bunairgead
3. Race: Confident Cub - Badger Daly - First Friday
4. Race: Dragon Khan - Killena Boy - Benalex Park
5. Race: Maudlin Magdalen - Miller Beach - Lucky Kitten
6. Race: Caponata - Aloof - We`ll Go Walking
7. Race: Sharp Crisp Air - An Saincheann - Lady Giselle
8. Race: Manalapan - League Of Nations - Sophisticated Heir