jumps racing at Catterick and Ludlow

racing steps up a gear today and there is interesting jumps racing - with larger and more competitive fields- at both Catterick and Ludlow. The top race of the day is the Boyne Cup a handicap chase over an extended 3 miles at 15.10 CET at Ludlow, in which Roll The Dice )(Philip Hobbs/ Richard Johnson), from a stable having a ttremendous run, is likely to start favourite. He has run well on all his 3 seasonal starts but we are not sure that he really stays this trip and would rather go against him. Gorsky Island (Tom George/ Paddy Brennan) won nicely over this CD 20 days ago; that was his first ever success and he can go on from there, but it is worth noting that Abbeygrey (Evan Williams/ Adam Wedge) was only just over a length behind and is now 5 lbs better off. Kingsmere (Henry >Daly/ Jake Greenall), who has been hudling, is also on the short list. We have a similsr situation half an hour later when Vivaccio (Venetia Williams/ Aidan Coleman) attempts to follow up his easy win here that same day. Bonobo (Evan Williams/ Paul Moloney) was beaten quite a long way but is now 12 lbs better off and a definite danger.

It is very unusual for Nicky Henderson to have runners at Catterick, but he sends two to the Yorkshire track today - Cocktails at Dawn (Andrew Tinkler) in the beginners chase at 14.50 and Taylor (Daryl Jacob) in the mares novice hurdle half an hour later. Both were runners-up last time and can go one better today, although they will both be at quite short odds. Ex-German Birthday Guest (Philip Kirby/ Adam Nicol) runs in the opening handicap hurdle at 13.20, He won 5 races on the flat for Christian von der Recke, but has shown very little in his 6 starts in the U.K.; however his third last form was not too bad in the context of this race and he could run a big race at a long price. Veteran CD specialist Patavium (Edwin Tuer/ Tony Kelly) is another to keep an eye on in the same event.
Unfortunately there are very small fields in the main events at the two all-weather meetings, with only 4 showing up for the 10 furlongs conditions race at 15.00 at Lingfield. All 4 are quite decent, and although on official ratinhs he is actually worst in, we choose Brazilian-bred Energia Davos (Marco Botti/ Martin Harley), who has always threatened to win a race on this standard and ran really well in a strong listed race over this CD last time.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Moss Street - Stentorian - Desert Recluse
2. Race: Shinooki - Etania - Ronnie Lawson
3. Race: Mystery Drama - Stephanie Frances - Cloudante
4. Race: Gorsky Island - Abbeygrey - Roll The Dice
5. Race: Vivaccio - Oyster Shell - Uriah Heep
6. Race: Miss Lucky Penny - Mac Bertie - Lukes Hill
7. Race: The Clonlisk Bug - Timon`s Tara - The Hon Mackinlay

3 more poor meetings today

if anything, today´s cards are even worse than yesterday´s, with no race at the 3 U.K. meetings - Sedgefield and Southwell over jumps, and Wolverhampton on the flat (with a late start) better than class level. The top jump jockeys- including AP McCoy and Richard Johnson- are all at Southwell despite the very poor prize-money on offer, and the two mentioned should certainly go home with a winner or two. Johnson can take the handicap chase at 13.15 CET on his mother´s The Last Bridge and can follow up with Alan King´s The Tourard Man, placed on all his starts so far, in the novice hurdle an hour later. Wew also like his chancs on Mike Appleby´s dubutant Bfrigadoon, a consistent handicapper on the flat, at 15.20. Ransom Note (Nigel and Sam Twiston-Davies) was much better class on the flat, But he has questions to answer here, while Lemony Bay (Oliver Sherwood/ Leighton Aspell) and Some Buckle (Tom George/ Paddy Brennan) never ran on the flat but have both showed some ability over sticks, so this is a bit tricky. McCoy´s best chances are probably in the handicap hurdles at 14.50 and an hour later on Bandit Country for Jonjo O´Neill and Jigsaw Financial for Laura Young respectively.
The most interesting race at Sedhefield is the handicap hurdle at 15.00 where most of the runners have an pronounced aversion to ever winning a race. Many of them suffer from acute seconditis, such as Silver Shuffle, who has a German pedigree being by Big Shuffle out of a Lando mare, but has managed one win from 47 starts - none at all over jumps- but is repeatedly placed. We shall take a chance on Sam Lord each way (Jimmy Moffatt/ Graham Watters), who at least knows how to win and has quite a good record here. David Pipe and Tom Scudamore come here for two runners and they could both win- Mount Haven in the maiden hurdle at 14.00, whose latest form has been well boosted, and Skylander in the bumper that ends the card at 16.30.
The best event at Wolverhamptpn is the 1 3/4 mile handicap at 16.40, where the two fillkies t the top of the weights should both get involved - Duchess of Gazeley (Dean Ivory/ Seb Sanders) and the well-bred Sagesse (Sir Mark Prescott/ Luke Morris), who is up in trip here. Sir Mark is always dangerous in such races, but we prefer the former, who was racing in much better compoany at the start of the year.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: The Last Bridge - Typical Oscar - Cruising Bye
2. Race: Ballymoat - Jewellery - Gold Ingot
3. Race: The Tourard Man - Henllan Harri - Mackerye End
4. Race: Bandit Country - Spanish Arch - The Road Ahead
5. Race: Lemony Bay - Ransom Note - Mad Jack Mytton
6. Race: Arthur Mc Bride - Amazing Scenes - Flash Tommie
7. Race: North Country Boy - Diaktoros - Kingussie

3 poor meetings today

a very low key start to the week with jumping from Plumpton and all-weather flat racing from Wolverhampton and Kempton (late start). The best horse running today is probably Chris Pea Green (Gary and Josh Moore) who goes for the novice chase at 14.10 CET at Plumpton. He was a smart handicap hurdler and has made a good start to his chasing career, being runner-up to a decent type on all his 3 starts.There is nothing of the calibre of those winners in today´s small field and he should not be hard pressed to win, although he will start at a prohibitive price. The other interesting runner here is Southway Star (Neil King/ B Andrews), who is going for her fifth win in less than a month at 14.40. She reverts to hurdles here - and is still reasonably handicapped on her old form over sticks, but today we prefer Cove (Nick Gifford/ Charlie Deutsch), who ran well in better company last time at Ascot.
Best flat race is the 2 mile handicap at 16.30 at Wolverhampton, where all 7 runners have recent form to their credit. Cousin Khee (Hughie Morrison/ Hayley Turner) and Buckland (Charlie Fellowes) are both good enough in this grade, but we are not sure that they can concede the weight to German-bred Mister Bob (Jamie Bethell/ Graham Lee) and Uncle Bernie (Andrew Hollinshead/ Robert Tart), both recent CD winners. We prefer the former, whose dam (by Acatenango) was a listed winner in Germany and who has shown much improved form since being stepped up in distance.
At Kempton, the 7 furlongs handicap at 18.20 is the best race and Godolphin´s improving 3yo Holiday Magic (Charlie Appleby/ Adam Kirby) looks sure to start a warm favourite after winning his last 3 races, all at this track. He is probably better than this grade and can score again, but this is no penalty kick as he faces some in-form opponents, notably Stonefield Flyer (Keith Dalgleish/ Graham Lee), who scored in good style over this CD 4 weeks ago and is only 3 lbs higher, Light from Mars (Ron Harris/ Willie Twiston-Davies) is another CD specialist who could go well, but in our view his team has a a better chance in the following race with Noverre to Go, who is down to his lowest rating in years but has a good record here.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Siobhans Beauty - Dusky Lark - Handsome Horace
2. Race: Albatros De Guye - Romeo Americo - What`S For Tea
3. Race: Teochew - Mistral Reine - Cannon Fodder
4. Race: Bobbits Way - Shantou Breeze - Alright Benny
5. Race: Zero Visibility - Hold The Bucks - Lord Brantwood
6. Race: Cheat The Cheater - Raid Stane - According To Them
7. Race: Oh So Fruity - Whispering Speed - Red Devil Star