the usual Monday fare today, but, coming just after Ascot´s big meeting and with Glorious Goodwood starting tomorrow, nothing else could be expected.
The most interesting race at Yarmouth this aftenoon is the 7 furlongs handicap at 16.45 CET. Only 6 runners but still quite tricky. Wake Up Call (Chris Wall/ Jack Mitchell) has only run once this season, winning easily over this CD in May, while Soviet Secret (Charlie McBride/ Dane O´Neill) after running-up four times in succession finally got off the mark at Newmarket. Mark Johnston continues in unstoppable form, as we saw yesterday in Munich, and his Always Dazzling (Joe Fanning), third here over 6 furlongs last time, is a big danger. Our best bet here is Imprimis Tagula each-way in the 6 furlongs handicap at 17.45. He was well beaten at Saturday over 7 furlongs at York, but this race - though very open- looks easier and the trip is more suitable.
The card at Wolverhampton is very low grade. Mme de Stael (Sir Mark Prescott/ Seb Sanders), running in the same colours as Lady Jane Digby, is our best bet here. Stepped up in distance (in time-honoured Prescott fashion) she won very easily at Lingfield last week and should have little problem in defying a 6 lbs penalty a relatively weak contest at 18.30.
Richard Hannon and Richard Hughes are usually the team to follow at Windsor´s evening meetings and that should be the case again today. Tijori and Barking (well beaten at odds-on on his debut) can win the two 2yo maidens at 19.10 and 20.10, while top-weight Bougainvillea, who ran well in better company at Newmarket last time, can take the fillies handicap over 6 furlongs at 20.40.
Most interesting runner on a weak jumps card this evening at Uttoxeter is the ex-Schlenderhan runner Andorn (Peter Kirby/ Kyle James) in the 2 mile handicap hurdle at 21.55. When last seen over hurdles he was pulled up on very heavy ground at Wetherby in December, but today´s better going should be ideal and he has been in good form on the flat, winning twice already this summer.
Betting forecast at Uttoxeter:
1. Race: Riverscape - Washango - Halling Gal
2. Race: Tritonville Lodge - Intac - Pagan Sword
3. Race: King Of Castile - Calzaghe - Manadam
4. Race: Bynack Mhor - Good Harvest - Strong Coffee
5. Race: Filippo Lippi - Aldiruos - Kisha King
6. Race: Sparkling Brook - Andorn - Northern Lad