15:15 Carlisle

Thursday 19 October 2017

All14:1014:4515:1515:4516:2016:5017:25

Rhodes Media Windermere Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:16 | Winning time: 6m 24.04s

Silver Tassie¹⁷⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Joe Colliver| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 135| D

33/1

Won his first race in 2½ years when scoring by 6L at Ayr in March (3m heavy), so perhaps a 6lb rise was too much. Not involved (pulled up) on his final start last season at Perth, and needs to return 'A1' from this mark.

Form: 66U13P-

Ballyben²²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: B S Hughes| T: J M Jefferson| OR: 135| C| D

9/2

Has developed into a reasonable long distance handicapper granted some cut in the ground and we know that he is a strong performer at this track. However, 9lb higher for his latest (impressive) Perth success, and has a career high mark to defy.

Form: 12207-1

I Just Know¹⁸⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: Henry Brooke| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 134| D

9/2

Climbed through the handicap ranks last season rising 30lb in the weights for victories at Hexham, Doncaster and Catterick. Stamina is his forte and he jumps well from the front. Interesting to see if he can maintain that progression this term.

Form: 2211P3-

Vic De Touzaine²¹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: Wayne Hutchinson| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 134

4/1

Lightly raced over fences (eight starts), but has kept strong company since winning at Leicester in March 2016 (2m4f heavy). Needs to prove that he definitively stays this trip, but the signs were encouraging at Cheltenham in March.

Form: 2U1/22U-

Palm Grey¹⁷⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Sam Coltherd⁽⁵⁾| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 133| C| D

12/1

Capable performer who likes the Cumbrian air (dual winner here at up to 2m5f). Proved his stamina over 3m at Wetherby in April, but perhaps that wasn't the most competitive of contests, and up another 5lb. Ground ideal.

Form: 21U441-

Alderbrook Lad⁵²

Age: 11| Weight: 11-6| J: Mr Joe Wright⁽⁷⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 129| D

50/1

Old timer who recovered from a nasty gallops experience at home to keep good form at Cartmel over the summer months (2m5f winner in July). However, disappointing latest and still 4lb above his last winning mark in a stronger contest.

Form: 98-212P

Carrigdhoun^p,t²²

Age: 12| Weight: 11-5| J: Dale Irving⁽³⁾| T: M A Barnes| OR: 128| CD

4/1

Tough, wily old veteran who has won his last three starts at this track (including this contest in 2016), and on that score he could've been far more harshly treated by the assessor than has been the case. Better for a run at Perth.

Form: 2P516-3

Federici¹⁸²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: W T Kennedy| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 128

5/1

His last success came in a 2m7f Fairyhouse handicap hurdle in April 2016 for Enda Bolger, but he didn't show all that much in five starts for this trainer last season. Falling in the weights and this trip isn't such an extreme test.

Form: 064P55-

Boric^p¹⁷⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 10-10| J: Callum Bewley⁽³⁾| T: S Waugh| OR: 119

16/1

Held on gamely after making all to take the Highlands National at Perth (3m6f good) by ½L in April. Returns to action off a six month break from a 9lb higher mark with more to offer, but might need this race.

Form: 53P181-

Forecasts

Vic De Touzaine (4/1), Carrigdhoun (4/1), I Just Know (9/2), Ballyben (9/2), Federici (5/1), Palm Grey (12/1), Boric (16/1), Silver Tassie (33/1), Alderbrook Lad (50/1)

A race to savour, and a one which features a number of Carlisle specialists including the feasibly treated 2016 winner Carrigdhoun and the likeable Palm Grey. However, there are a few more progressive runners in the line up, and these include the front running Highlands National winner Boric, who faces competition for the lead from I JUST KNOW. Sue Smith's seven-year-old was firmly on an upward trajectory last season, and assuming he can maintain that progression from a rising mark, he looks like developing into a Borders National/Eider Chase contender. Although recent impressive Perth winner Ballyben is also on a similar upward curve, his younger, and perhaps more battle hardened rival has the most to offer going forward.