N.H. racing at Leicester, Musselburgh and Punchestown (Ireland)

Racing is not yet certain to go ahead at Musselburgh, as a second inspection has been called at the Scottish track. The handicap hurdles at 15.20 CET (2 1/2 miles) and 16.50 ( 2 miles) are the most interesting races, and in both cases a German-bred has top weight, First Stream (Howard Johnson/ Brian Hughes) and Los Nadis (Peter Monteith/ Ryan Mania) respectively. Both are CD winners and should run well, particularly the former, who was group class on the flat. Los Nadis must correct a poor run last time, and also faces some strong opposition, notably from Palomar (Nicky Richards/ Graham Lee) and Caravel (Howard Johnson/ Jerry O´Farrell).
At Leicester, the novice chase at 15.40 looks the most interesting event and all 8 runners have a chance. The 10yo Fighting Chance (Richard Lee/ Richard Johnson) seems finally to have found his form and can complete a hat-trick by again defeating Wheels Up (Jonjo O´Neill/ Tony McCoy), runner-up to him at Newbury and now 2 lbs better off. Plum Pudding (Giles Smyly/ Liam Treadwell) was an easy winner this CD 3 weeks ago and can now beat stronger opposition in the 3 mile handicap chase at 16.10, and half an hour later Pistolet Bleu (Philip Hobbs/ McCoy) is another who can quickly follow up an easy CD win in a tougher race.
The hottest favourite of the day will be Rite of Passage (Dermot Weld/ Robbie McNamara) in the opening hurdle race at 14.55 at Punchestown. He is regarded as one of the Irish bankers for Cheltenham and it will be a shock if he is beaten here. Won in the Dark (Dabrina Harty/ Davy Russell) also looks a good thing half an hour later, although German-bred Wild Passion (Noel Meade/ Davy Condon) would be a danger if back to his best; however he has only run twice in the last 3 years so caution is advised. Deutschland (Willie Mullins/ Ruby Walsh) - despite the name, not German -, has also not run for a while, so Jessica Harrington´ s consistent mare No One Tells me (Robbie Power) is preferred in the hurdle race at 15.55. Mullins can in any case pick up a couple of races with Flat Out, ridden by nephew Emmet, at 16.25 and Allee Garde, with son Patrick in the saddle in the bumper at 17.55.