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.