Yet another all-chase meeting at Carlisle

CARLISLE – Thursday March 26th

Going – Good (Good to Soft in places)

The ground was a good deal better for this meeting than it had been for most of the season. However, after a lapse at Sedgefield where all fences were jumped, the ‘area requirement’ was once again invoked with the second last fence being missed out for ‘damaged ground’. Methinks urgent attention is needed for the future. Meanwhile, the first fence out in the country was removed from service ‘damaged’ after the first race, presumably a result of Cornerback’s error and fall.

The prevailing conditions seemed to favour those ridden from the front or close to the pace.

2.25 3m 1/2 f 0-110 Novices’ Handicap Chase

GARLETON hinted at ability last year and is now fulfilling promise, recording a second win here. Always going well he stayed on to lead on the flat and win with a little in hand. He has been placed in heavy conditions, but gives the impression he’s suited by better ground. He’s moving forward now and probably hasn’t stopped winning.
INDY MOOD lived up to his name on this occasion, running creditably from a little out of the handicap staying on under pressure. His last win was in 2005, and he has a period in the wilderness, but his last two efforts have promised a little more. He will be off a mark of 90 next time, but there should be scope to find a minor handicap.
CHORIZO proved better on this surface than in the mud. He as in front at the last but found no more from there.
AIRHILL LADY plugged on up the hill and this was a fair effort on chasing debut, but she was held from three out as was CHERNIK who never troubled the leaders.
IT’S A CLASSIC flattered briefly at the bottom of the hill before crying “enough”. His form suggests testing ground is required.
BEAU SADDLER looks more amenable recently, but having run with some zest to four out he fell away up the hill. This track may be too stiff for him.
TOY GUN is out of sorts and dropped away in the last mile.
There was major carnage at the ninth, CORNERBACK hitting the fence and falling, with SUPREMELY GIFTED, who had gone quite well to that point, being brought down and EASBY MANDARIN being hampered and unseating.

3.00 2m Class 3 Novices’ Chase

AURORAS ENCORE took advantage of below par runs from opponents here to win this with a stack in hand. He ran creditably to three out over 2m 5f at Cheltenham and returned to a more straightforward task here.
PANTHERS RUN led to two but was comfortably outpointed from there. He’s only rated 68 which doesn’t bode well for those behind him.
STUMPED’s form has steadily deteriorated in five chases.
SOUBRIQUET should have at least comfortably seen off the second here, and this was well below his capability.
DEGAS ART has plenty of ability from hurdling days, but has yet to prove he’s a chaser. This was a dire effort.
ALMOND COURT was beaten 60-odd lengths here and his form is best judged on the fact that this was a best effort in his last six races.

3.35 2m 5f Class 4 Beginners’ Chase

Tjade Collier recorded a treble as CASH MAN, who had been handicapping, stayed on well to take an event in which the favourite seemed to have a problem.
SOTOVIK put his poor Ayr effort behind him, staying on for second. His hurdling win was over a longer distance.
PAMAK D’AIRY was one paced and held from the bottom of the hill. He had the highest handicap mark in the field and better would have been expected.
TREEHOUSE and ESME RIDES A GAINE moved from the pointing field this season and are struggling against the opposition in these events.
LINLITHGOW LAD led to the tenth and then struggled before pulling up.
The favourite CHECKERBOARD chased the leader three out, but weakened very quickly as if he had a problem.

4.10 2m 5f 0-110 Handicap Chase

I’d always reckoned OPEN DE L’ISLE would be best around the minimum trip, but he proved me totally off the mark here. He led before the last and was pushed out for victory. He was probably running near to his reasonable handicap mark here though, and a rise for the 8 length win will not help him in future.
TEENANDO would probably have finished second but for unseating at the last. He’s reached his level now, but does perform well around Carlisle.
MANADAM ran a fair enough race in second, but gives the impression of one who has established his level.
WISE CHOICE never got near to the lead but plugged on up the hill for third.
MARLEYBOW struggled from the bottom of the hill as did PASS THE CLASS.
ATYANAX was always out the back, and PEN GWEN led early on but had dropped away before the two mile mark was reached.
NILE MOON was leading when falling at the ninth, but his overall profile is not encouraging with just one novices’ hunter chase place in ten efforts under Rules.
DAY OF CLAIES hasn’t shown anything in two runs since a long break.
BALLYVOGE ran no sort of race and pulled up.

4.45 3m 2f 0-95 Handicap Chase

NELLIEDONETHAT bounced back to form. He was always going well and idled in front, so the impression is that there may still be a little in hand.
BENBEOCH was held up early but made good progress to join issue at the twelfth. He stayed on well but was held by the winner. He has dropped from a mark of 93 to 71 in the past year. He’s not run as well as this for a while and the big question is whether he produces the form again. He may be under-priced next time.
GETINBYBUTONLYJUST was in the fray all the way, but was held from the last. He manages to find one or two too good for him. I would imagine the Highland National might be on his agenda.
BAKER FLINN showed a glimmer of encouragement once again if one paced from three out.
SUPREME’S LEGACY dropped away from the eleventh. He generally gets involved up front somewhere along the line, but lacks oomph in the latter stages.
MITCHEL HENRY ran another lack lustre race.
JBALLINGALL ran prominently until turning towards three out.
JACKSONVILLE had run passably well at Ayr but was never going here and ended a remote last.
GLACIAL RAMBLER ran prominently early, but folded quickly after halfway.
CUTE N YOU KNOW IT and MISS TOSCA were both struggling by halfway and pulled up.
IKEMBA ran quite well last time, but was well held here in a much more competitive race. He was another to be pulled up.

5.20 2m 0-100 Handicap Chase

OSO MAGIC recorded a first win since 2005. Even with a rise in the weights he will still be on a decent mark, and ran with a good amount of zest here, but the big question is whether or not he is inclined to exert himself in future.
BAMBY ran creditably in second but never got to grips with the leader. It should be possible to find another race for her.
UPTOWN LAD inherited third at the last and was flattered.
COTE D’ARGENT, a decent winner over hurdles last time, was in the process of running a very creditable race on his chasing debut when coming down at the last. He was probably held but it was a good effort.
NORMINSTER was staying on, as is his way, when he couldn’t avoid Cote D’Argent and unseated at the last. He may now find his handicap mark telling but still remains in good heart.
HOLLOWS MILL didn’t get to the leaders, BOG OAK didn’t make a serious impact and LERIDA, a winner here earlier in the season but not the slightest bit reliable, dropped away after racing prominently early on.
DUKE OF MALFI added to a lengthening list of dismal performances.
DREAM ON DREAMERS ran like a 66/1 shot.
ROSSIN GOLD lost his place quickly after the third and was pulled up after jumping one more.




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