The latest news and best bets in our everyday horse racing blog plus our weekly tipping competition

Absence truly does make the heart grow fonder. While we have got three all-weather meetings to gamble on today I can't help except long for some action back through fences again. Even a 0-90 selling chase in the mud at Plumpton would seem love manna from heaven to jump racing fans who have suffered an unexpected 10-day hunger diet.

Huntingdon and Kempton will both seem again later today with regards to their meetings in the next 48 hours. Wetherby inspect tomorrow morning for Saturday's card. But Musselburgh's meetings on Friday and Saturday have both been called off this morning meaning that the two replacement fixtures organised by the British Horseracing Authority for the tracks most optimistic about their weekend weather forecasts have both fallen by the wayside. Let's hope that doesn't stop the BHA from trying something comparable again in the same circumstances.

I'm no anti-all-weather snob. There are bad races everywhere. But having ploughed through today's three meetings I really couldn't find much to get like well excited about. Restless Genius (3.50) might be worth one more opportunity at Southwell with his stable having won with three of its six runners in the last fortnight.

He ran only a fair race here last time having had little chance from a wide draw at Wolverhampton previously but there wasn't much wrong with his previous two starts – particularly a solid second at this seek in November – and he has dropped to a mark from which he will surely win before long. Perhaps the request of eyeshields will help to inspire a return to form. At 7-1 you can afford to receive the chance.

Bo McGinty (12.50) hasn't won for a long time but caught the eye when not given the most ambitious of rides behind Elijah Pepper at this track a couple of days ago and could potentially reverse placings with a decent 5lb-claimer on board. Whether that means he is capable to get his head in front again (something he doesn't seem particularly keen on doing in any case) remains to be seen but I certainly expect a good showing.

Even more speculatively and at a best-priced 16-1 there is a case to be made for Meikle Barfil (7.10) in the last race at Wolverhampton. The only previous time he wore blinkers they certainly seemed to perk him up and he didn't run all that badly when beaten less than four lengths in a race that has already worked out quite well on his latest start. A long run of zeros next to his name in the form book doesn't bode well but at least he's in good corporation in that regard in this shocking contest.

Coma88 whizzed up behind our long-time boss chiefhk with a 9-2 winner yesterday. Viejo and Harrytheactor both managed doubles on what was a hard day.

MillieJ we all hope you're feeling better behind your tumble yesterday. I almost joined you in hospital – the only way off the station platform at Rolleston by Southwell was to walk down a specific ramp covered in ice. Maybe that's why so few people made it to the racecourse.

Today we'd like your tips please for these races: 2.50 Southwell 3.00 Lingfield 4.10 Wolves.

This week's prize is a copy of a new racing thriller The Rule of Lazari by Ben Osborne who writes for Racing & Football Outlook. The plot concerns an assistant trainer who has good reason to fear for his safety as one by one the jockeys who were his former colleagues are murdered. The action builds to a climax at the Cheltenham Festival.

As ever our champion will be the tipster who returns the best gain to notional level stakes of £1 at starting cost on our nominated races of which there will be three each day up until Friday. Non-runners count as losers. If you haven't joined in this week so far you are welcome to do so today but you will start on -9. For terms and conditions click here.

Good luck!

chiefhk +10.88

coma88 +10.50

socialwanderer +8.63

TeddyFrost +6.63

fatdeano +6

cloudy75 +6

Harchibald +6

SussexRH +6

Shrewdette +5.50

JDK1 +5.26

tiznow +3.76

TheVic +3.50

dickthebutcher +3.50

leviticus67 +3.25

Harrytheactor +1.50

slackdad38 +1.13

millreef +1

melonk +1

johnny909 +1

suckzinclee +1

Smidster +1

sandiuk +0.50

Mai11 +0

Viejo -0.87

chris1623 -0.88

xwireman -1.37

notgethithatonharry –1.49

sangfroid -1.50

mike65ie -3.50

goofs -3.74

stee33 -5

keepitdusty -5

MatthewHargreaves -6.37

Moscow08 -6.37

tom1977 -9

MillieJ -9

gashead1105 -9

johne5knuckle -9

Rivercity -9

factormax -9

Brochdoll -9

diegoisgod -9

lasramblas -9

WalthamstowLad -9

23skidoo -9

Will Hayler reports: The entries are out today for the Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Chase and the Ryanair Chase but there don't seem to be any surprises between them – in fact every horse that had been trading at 50-1 or less in Betfair's ante-post betting for both races has been declared.

Is it just me or does that say plenty about Betfair's effectiveness (whether intentional or not) at flagging up expected non-runners in these contests?

Master Minded is one of five entries from Paul Nicholls among 24 possibles for the race. Interestingly leading Irish novice Sizing Europe has been given an entry as an alternative to the expected Arkle Chase route. At eight years old connections may just feel that he has picked up enough experience already this season to take on the large boys.

It's Willie Mullins who dominates the entries for the Ryanair Chase with seven of the 43-strong field including recent Leopardstown scorer Golden Silver and fellow Grade One winners Barker and Glencove Marina. A number of horses including 2007 Champion Chase winner Voy Por Ustedes Forpaddydeplasterer and Petit Robin have been entered in both races.

Click here for all the day's racecards form stats and results.

Click here for today's latest odds.

And post your racing-related comments below.