Monday's horse racing preview and betting tips

The seven-year-old is hardly one of Oliver Sherwood's stable stars as even with a recent 6lb hike in the weights, he is still only rated 108, but he has been making progress at a rate of knots this term.

He scored the first of three successive wins at Huntingdon in November 2014, but a tendon injury then kept him on the sidelines until New Year's Eve, when he made a victorious return over hurdles.

Sherwood wasted little time in switching his sights to fences following that success, and Amberjam duly rose to the challenge to win by three-quarters of a length.

He looked an unlikely winner as he was all out at the last, but Amberjam showed he has plenty of heart to hang on and has been given the best part of a month to recover from those exertions.

Nicky Henderson's Take To Heart has shown up well in two bumpers to date so should take some stopping in the Retraining Of Racehorses Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race.

Owned by The Queen, he was beaten three lengths on his debut at Southwell and was then third at Doncaster in November.

He has been given plenty of time to strengthen up since then and his family has produced the likes of Open Hearted and Close Touch.

Cultram Abbey might get back to wining ways in the Weatherby Hamilton Handicap Chase at Carlisle.

Just touched off on his return to action at this track, he was beaten a long way by Harry The Viking in the Borders National when he appeared not to get home.

For a 10-year-old having his first run over hurdles for nearly two years last time out he showed up well for a long way at Haydock last time out.

The winner, Dadsintrouble, defied a 12lb higher mark on Saturday but Cultram Abbey is better over fences and he goes well at this track.

Donald McCain has been the man to follow at Carlisle this year and his Fin And Game really caught the eye when second on his debut at Bangor.

On a stiffer track, given how strongly he finished, he should take plenty of beating in the closing bumper.

Shamshon can take the richest prize of the day, the Betway Handicap at Wolverhampton.

Now with Stuart Williams after spells with Richard Hannon and Jamie Osborne, Shamshon will be having just his second start for new connections following an average debut at Chelmsford earlier this month.

Winner of a decent event at Ascot on his final start of 2016 last October, Shamshon was then snapped up by Williams for 55,000 guineas at Tattersalls last autumn.

His initial effort in fifth perhaps did not inspire his new team, but there was much to like about the outing, particularly as he looked as though he would strip fitter for the run.

Racing off a mark of 93, he is still some way below his career-high perch of 106, so there should be something to work with.

Lady Hester boasts an excellent dirt pedigree as a daughter of Bernardini out of a dual American Grade One winner, so it must have been a bit disappointing to see her beaten in two starts at the back end of last year.

The John Gosden team continues to persevere and a win in the 32Red.com Maiden Fillies' Stakes would certainly enhance her paddock value.

SELECTIONS:

CARLISLE: 2.00 Catamaran Du Seuil, 2.30 Theatre Act, 3.00 Purcell's Bridge, 3.35 Little Bruce, 4.10 Cultram Abbey, 4.45 Onwiththeparty, 5.15 Fin And Game.

LINGFIELD: 1.50 Take To Heart, 2.20 Lac Sacre, 2.50 Clonusker, 3.25 Hitherjacques Lady, 4.00 AMBERJAM (NAP), 4.35 Groundunderrepair, 5.05 Man Of Steel.

WOLVERHAMPTON: 2.10 Miss Macchiato, 2.40 Bush House, 3.10 Leonard Thomas, 3.45 Shamshon, 4.20 Inshaa, 4.55 Noble Act, 5.25 Lady Hester, 5.55 Killermont Street.

DOUBLE: Amberjam and Shamshon.