TimeformBlog

It's arguably Carlisle's biggest day of the year, with both the Carlisle Bell and Cumberland Plate drawing attention to Cumbria as on no other day in the racing calendar. We're not touching either of the big races, though in the consolation race for the Bell, held at 15:00, [b]Lockantanks[/b] represents a great bet. Largely progressive over the winter, the Michael Appleby-trained gelding looked to be right back in the swing of things when an unlucky third at Doncaster recently, hampered at a vital stage as he went down to Levitate and subsequent winner Ingleby Exceed. In off the same mark here (which is fully a stone lower than his official rating on all-weather), Lockantanks has leading claims to go two better. We switch to Salisbury for our second selection, again foregoing the feature...

[b]Jeremy Grayson focuses on the action at the northern track today, picking a pair of horses to back.[/b] Another galloping right-hand course some 305 miles further south will provide rather higher quality turf entertainment for the rest of this week, but Carlisle's card this afternoon is far from devoid of competitive (if humble) fare. A (whisper it) dry run-up to racetime may improve conditions a touch from the overnight soft, but they're unlikely to go so far the other way as to inconvenience Indian Giver, who thus rates a confident selection in the concluding 1m handicap (17:45). A winner over this trip on officially soft going at Hamilton in May, Hugh McWilliams' filly has continued to shape as if in her best, most consistent seam of form since autumn 2010 in two subsequent...

[b]Bold Ransom[/b] cashed in on drop in weights to nab 3½m handicap chase at Haydock in December, eased on the run-in. Well held when falling there since, even so has made his presence felt off similar marks before. [b]Do It For Dalkey[/b] was transformed by breathing operation to win back-to-back handicaps here, and made further progress when runner-up in a stronger race at Sandown since. Left on the same mark and a big player once again. [b]Victory Gunner[/b] is an admirable veteran who has won 4 of his 6 starts in the past 12 months, most recently a weak 4-runner Ffos Las handicap on Boxing Day. Fully effective under the conditions, but this is tougher. [b]Kellystown Lad[/b] is a point/hurdle winner who opened chasing account at Sedgefield (2½m) in November 2010. However, ...

[b]Camden George[/b] hs registered just a single win in 29 starts over jumps, and that came back in February 2009. Ran respectably when third in a veteran's chase at Aintree on return last month, but this looks too competitive. [b]Fortysecond Street[/b] has been largely below form since landing novice chase at Doncaster (19f) in March 2010, but back to best to win 25f handicap at Hexham on final run for Howard Johnson. More needed on debut for new yard now. [b]Sarando[/b] landed a 2½m novice chase at Plumpton in January, and much improved in defeat when chasing home Quito de La Roque in 25f Grade 2 novice at Aintree in April. Big chance if repeating that effort. [b]Aikman[/b] is a point winner who progressed well over hurdles last season, and showed himself as good as ever when...

Race two at Carlisle is our first port of call on Thursday afternoon and [b]Cape Dutch[/b] can follow up an impressive win at Hexham last month with another victory in what looks an interesting novice hurdle at 14:20. Both of his two starts so far have both been over two miles and Cape Dutch demonstrated promise on the first of those when finishing fourth to Bullet Man at Huntingdon, staying on after being not unduly knocked about. He again stayed on strongly when getting off the mark at Hexham last time and, now upped in trip, promises to go well again in the hands of promising conditional Mr J Quinlan. [b]Aikman[/b] has race fitness under his belt after an encouraging victory in an minor hurdle at Kelso just over two weeks ago and he can make that count on his chase debut this afternoon...

[b]Aikman[/b] is just about the pick of these on his exploits over hurdles, winning 3 times, including a minor event at Kelso on recent return to action. A fine chasing prospect who is the one to beat here. [b]Bold Sir Brian[/b] is a bumper winner who opened his hurdling account in Grade 2 novice at Kelso in March. Failed to fire in a better race the following month, but has potential to make up into a useful novice chaser this term. [b]Drom[/b] tasted success in points, but a couple of efforts in hunter chases this spring not at the required level against some useful prospects. [b]Frascati Park[/b] was a smart bumper winner who has made up into a useful hurdler in more recent times, winning a pair of novices last season. Will have been well prepared for chase bow, and another ...

On the first day of the St Leger meeting it looks significant that Paul Hanagan heads to Carlisle. The Champion Jockey, who starts the day thirteen winners clear of his nearest pursuer Kieren Fallon in this year's title race, has a solid book of rides and could strike early with [b]Summer Lan[/b]e (14.10) who is making the switch to nurseries. The filly has shaped with promise on all three of her runs in maidens and an opening mark of 57 could prove very lenient. Conditions are set to be on the soft side at Carlisle, which bodes well for Summer Lane given she's a half-sister to the useful pair of Baycat and Coolminx, both mud lovers. [b]Alaskan Bullet[/b] (14.35) can maintain his unbeaten record in receipt of a weight allowance in the six-furlong conditions event at Doncaster. The son...

Gordon Elliott's superb record with his raiders from across the Irish Sea is well documented and if you look deeper you'll see that when the stable goes to the effort of booking AP McCoy the numbers are even more striking. The Champion Jockey has ridden nineteen winners from fifty-two rides for the yard and the pair team up on three occasions at Hereford this afternoon, their strongest chance arguably coming in the opener with [b]Priors Gold[/b] (14.10). The dual hurdles winner has been ticking over nicely on the Flat following a cracking effort behind the well-touted Tom Horn at Bellewstown last month and appeals as a more solid proposition than Spirit Is Needed. The colossal 900-mile round trip that [b]Edgware Road[/b] (14.20) will undertake to Folkestone and back from Keith Dalgleish's...

Our first bet of the day is the William Haggas-trained [b]Dark Ambition[/b] in the nursery at Lingfield (15:30). He was very green when well held in three quick runs in maidens last month, but shaped well on his nursery debut at Salisbury last time. Making the running that day, he kept on well to finish a close fourth to Bu Naaji. The form of that run sets the standard in what looks an ordinary contest and Dark Ambition should be able to open his account this afternoon. Next we're off to Carlisle where [b]Abidhabidubai[/b] has a good chance of making it two wins on the bounce in the claimer (15:40). Although a consistent sort, it would be fair to say that the John Quinn-trained filly has proved a tad frustrating with string of placed efforts prior to landing a claimer at Redcar last ...