listed race this evening

Highlight of today´ s 6 cards in the U.K. and Ireland is the listed race for 2yo´s over a mile at 19.40 CET at Salisbury. Only 5 runners, but 4 of them look distinctly promising and could well be disputing group races before long. The Hannon stable has won this 4 times in tjhe last 5 years and Tupi (Richard Hughes) should certainly be involved; he was promoted to second place last time at Deauville on desperate ground and today´s conditions will undoubtedly be better. Winters Moon (Saeed bin Suroor/ Andrea Atzeni), who as the only filly in the field gets 5 lbs from all the others, finished third in a Group Three at Newmarket and that form is also strong. However our choice is Elm Park (Andrew Balding/ David Probert), who win in good style at Newbury last time; he runs here in preference to next week´s Zukunfts-Rennen at Baden-Baden. Balding is having a great run and can also win the 1 1/2 mile handicap for 3yo´s over 1 1/2 miles half an hour later with Der Meister (Oisin Murphy), unbeaten after two wins in more modest company,but probably well up to this grade; His dam Agnetha is German-bred and was once the top-priced lot at Baden-Baden´s yearling sales.
Balding and Probert can earlier be on the mark at Sandown with Man of Harlech in the 3yo mile handicap at 16.35, although this is a very tricky race and several lightly-raced runners can be expected to improve markedly from their present rating. One of the dangers is certainly Basem (Saeed bin Suroor/ Hughes), who is a half-brother to Champion Stakes winner Farhh out of German Group One winner Gonbarda.
There is also low-level racing at Thirsk this afternoon and at Wolverhampton this evening, while they go over jumps at Bangor and in Ireland at Down Royal, where there is an all-hurdles card. There are some very small fields at Bangor, but AP McCoy, currently in unstoppable form, has 5 rides and can be expected to continue his winning run.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Lady Crossmar - George Baker - Beep
2. Race: Fast Dancer - Grenade - Ickymasho
3. Race: Stolen Story - Seebeedee - Jersey Belle
4. Race: Winters Moon - Tupi - Elm Park
5. Race: High Church - Der Meister - Cape Caster
6. Race: Taws - Laser Blazer - Cinnilla

group race in Ireland this evening

once again Ireland comes to the rescue today with a group race this evening at Tipperary, as the 5 U.K. meetings, 2 of them over jumps, are all very poor and with some small fields as well.
The main event is the Fairy Bridge Stakes for fillies and mares over 7 1 /2 furlongs at 19.30 CET and rather surprisingly Aidan O´Brien has no runner here. Instead it is Dermot Weld who can dominate; he saddles 2 runners, the 4yo Big Break (Liam Roche) and the 3yo Tested, the choice of stable Jockey Pat Smullen. Tested ran a good race last time when runner-up at Galway, but today´s opposition looks stronger and it would be no great surprise to see Big Break, a sister to Famous Name who was second in s similar race over this CD last October, finish in front of her this evening, especially if it rains. Purr Along (Johnny Murtagh/ Jamie Spencer) looks a big danger on her fourth place in a Newmarket Group One last time, while Witches Brew (Eddie Lynam/ Seamie Heffernan), whose trainer is having such a tremendous summer, also comes into the equation.
There could al,so be some Irish-trained winners in the U.K. today, as Pat Shanahan sends 4 runners to the Welsh track Ffos Las and they could all finish in the money. We especially like Prince Jock (Richard Hughes) in the mile handicap at 17.05, as long as he does not "bounce".
Normal each-way bettting is impossible at Fontwell today and punters should probably leave this meeting alone; AP McCoy rode 4 winners at Worcester yesterday and could repeat the feat here, though none of his rides are likely to start at generous odds.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Forebear - Acting Talent - Estrelita
2. Race: Hail The Hero - Dunquin - Zafilani
3. Race: Toscanelli - Fields Of May - Fit For The Job
4. Race: Tested - Big Break - Purr Along
5. Race: Kodiac`s Back - Millington - Succeed And Excel
6. Race: Amazing Star - Aurelia Cotta - Laviniad
7. Race: Red Rocks Point - Nonchalant - Ebasani

6 poor meetings today

The weather has finally stabilised and at least we won´t be having many non-runners at today´s 6 meetings. However the quality is poor all over and the races at the 3 afternoon meetings are almost all low grade handicaps. Chinese Jade (Sir Mark Prescott/ Chris Catlin) is the only runner from his powerful stable at Carlisle and the trainer clearly means business in the mile handicap at 17.00 CET; however top-weight Talent Scout (Karen and Gemma Tutty) is a CD specialist, while Lord of the Dance (Michael Mullineaux/ Anna Hesketh), who has been dropped to a very seductive weight, both look dangerous.

At Catterick we like the two top-weights in the class 4 handicaps, Little Shambles (Mark Johnston/ Franny), who is 2/2 over this CD, at 16.40, and Galizzi (Michael Bell/ Kieren Fallon), runner-up at Newmarket last time, at 17.45 The 5 furlongs handicap at 16.50 isd tzhe bnest race at Lingfield; Clearing (Jim Boyle/ Pat Cosgrave) is the likely favourite after making all to win over this CD last time, but we like top-weight Stone of Folca (Jim Best/ George Baker) despite his abysmal form figures, as he has been running in much hotter races.

The fields ae much more competive at Kempton´s evening Meeting andf the miler handicap there at 20.55 is tzhe best trace of the day. Once again the top-weight looks dangerous, Homsge (William Haggas/ Ryan Moore), an easy winner of his only start this year after being gelded during the winter, but we also like consistent Musaddas (Saeed bin Suroor/ Andrea Atzeni), in Godolphin´s second colours, who looks almost certain to be placed again - for the 8th time in 9 career starts.

The card at the Irish meeting at Bellewstown looks no stronger, while there are small fields at the N.H. meeting at Worcester; it looks like another AP McCoy benefit, as the champion has fancied rides in all 7 races.