Short-priced favourites dominate today's Hereford card, the only jumps meeting following the loss of waterlogged Catterick. Celestial Gold and Crocodiles Rock may well oblige in the first two races, such is their apparent superiority over modest rivals, but neither looks cast-iron. In the third race, Spare Cash will have a race on his hands if useful bumper winner Hold Em handles the ground. The market leader with most punting appeal is Irish Legend (3.00). He hacked up by eight lengths from Onefourfun, who had won as he liked the time before, at Exeter. Best on a right-hand track and on soft ground, Irish Legend has his requirements again today.
Bumper races wouldn't be everyone's favoured betting medium, but it is interesting to see support for the newcomer Jivin' Johnny (4.00) in the Hereford finale. He has been backed into 10-1 and hails from the shrewd stable of Keith Goldsworthy, who has a good line to bumper form with Hold Em. It's interesting to note the trainer declared Jivin' Johnny for the Listed bumper race at Warwick on Saturday.
Epsom trainer Terry Mills has a 33% strike-rate at Southwell in recent years and he can score with his only runner there today. Diriculous (2.10) is closely related to Fibresand winners and he doesn't look overburdened with a mark of 59 on his handicap debut here.
