NEXT week’s racing has it all. The Craven meeting, two days at Cheltenham, the Scottish National and then there is the prospect of the Punchestown Festival just around the corner. So today is the calm before the storm: and is a fairly quiet Saturday. But there is a solid mix of Flat and National Hunt racing to get stuck into. IOLITH is my main interest today in a fairly competitive handicap hurdle at Stratford. Alan King’s eight-year-old ran a race full of promise at Newbury after a long lay-off and looks well treated. Today’s sharper track and better ground will suit and the Wayne Hutchinson-King axis is in lethal form.

A former King horse also interests me at Uttoxeter. SHALONE ran Diamond Harry to a short head in a hot Newbury bumper four years ago and looked a future star, although he never quite fulfilled his potential. A horrific somersault-style fall on the run to the last flight at the Cheltenham Festival in the Martin Pipe race when still in contention must also have left its mark. Now with Adrian Wintle, he has shown glimmers of promise this season but has been running on bad ground. Today’s drier conditions and 2m4f trip may just be the right combination and Gerard Tumelty, who used to ride him for King, is in the saddle in the 4.30. He is on a mark of 120, a full 25lb lower than when he came third to Zaynar in the Relkeel Hurdle in 2009. He is worth a speculative each-way bet.

I’m also hoping for improvement from Henry Daly’s CYRIEN STAR in Uttoxeter’s 3.00 and the better ground should make a difference. And back at Stratford TROYAN might be able to defy a penalty in the bumper. He was impressive winning on his debut a Ludlow. DUKE’S AFFAIR is also worth a watching brief in this race as he is highly thought of.

Mark Johnston’s horses are running well but most of them have been needing a race to blow off the cobwebs. Both PETERKIN and FENNELL BAY have a race under their belts and should both show improvement in their respective races at Doncaster this afternoon.

Good luck!