12:55 Carlisle

Sunday 5 November 2017

All12:5513:3014:0014:3015:0515:3516:10

Watch RacingUK On The Go Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 12:56 | Winning time: 5m 5.50s

Count Meribel¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: M D Grant| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 129| C

7/2

Placed in all five hurdle races last season without success. Took advantage of being a now very experienced novice when easily winning here latest over 2m3½f on similar ground. Penalty to defy but bold bid expected.

Form: 33222-1

Niceandeasy²²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: Craig Nichol| T: K Dalgleish| D

9/2

Made a most pleasing start to his career, winning a Newcastle bumper last spring and a maiden hurdle at Hexham recently over 2m4f on heavy ground. Unbeaten gelding likely to have first serious test today.

Form: 1-1

Aloomomo³³⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: R Johnson| T: W Greatrex| OR: 125| D

11/4

Landed a hat-trick over fences late in 2015 but off since falling at Cheltenham last December. Chase rating of 146 shows ability and while he is a maiden over hurdles he has the ability to be a big player here.

Form: 1136/3F-

Blottos²¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Danny Cook| T: J Parkinson & S Smith

25/1

Couple of thirds the best he managed in four bumpers last season and was never seriously competitive. Longer trip ought to help on hurdles debut but unlikely to bustle up the principals.

Form: 3376-

Cadeyrn²⁶³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: R T Dunne| T: M Scudamore

12/1

Winning point-to-pointer who won the middle of three bumpers last winter, at Chepstow. Should be more at home over this sort of trip so may run well on hurdles debut.

Form: 1/315-

Haighall³³⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: B S Hughes| T: C Grant

16/1

Son of St Leger winner Scorpion was well beaten on debut last December in a Sedgefield bumper. Not seen since and leap of faith required in such a warm contest.

Form: 5-

Jaunty Flyer²²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan

14/1

Built on two promising thirds when winning final bumper on good ground at Exeter. 8½L fifth on hurdles debut in a decent Saturday contest at Chepstow and should build on that.

Form: 331-5

Kildisart³³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: D A Jacob| T: B Pauling| BF

5/1

Point-to-point runner-up was backed into odds-on in a bumper at Bangor last December but had to settle for second. Front two pulled clear there but winner let the form down at Newbury. Likely better to come and trainer does well in trips North.

Form: 2/2-

Leskinfere²⁰⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Ian Popham| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero

50/1

6¾L third in lone point-to-point back in April. Trainer started season in good form but surprising if this one is ready to contest such a competitive race.

Form: 3-

Tailor Tom²⁴⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: W T Kennedy| T: D McCain Jnr

25/1

Third of 11 in his last of three point-to-points his best effort in that sphere. Didn't show enough in those races to recommend him against some smart prospects.

Form: 6P3-

Valzan¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Tony Kelly| T: R Menzies| OR: 120

16/1

Winning chaser in France made a disappointing start to life for this yard when tailed off here last month behind Count Meribel with very similar conditions. Can't fancy based on that.

Form: P376-25

Only Orvieto²²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-5| J: Jamie Hamilton⁽³⁾| T: J M Jefferson

16/1

Sedgefield bumper winner returned from over a year off when pulled up at Hexham last month. Obviously had some issues and red flags raised after that last effort.

Form: 1/5-P

Forecasts

Aloomomo (11/4), Count Meribel (7/2), Niceandeasy (9/2), Kildisart (5/1), Cadeyrn (12/1), Jaunty Flyer (14/1), Only Orvieto (16/1), Valzan (16/1), Haighall (16/1), Tailor Tom (25/1), Blottos (25/1), Leskinfere (50/1)

Despite penalties the top pair look the most likely with recent hurdle wins to their name. A chance is taken on the less exposed NICEANDEASY who has won both racecourse outings to date with ease. A further win here could see him move to graded company and that is the sort of potential he has. Count Meribel will however provide him his stiffest test to date and impressed here first time out. His experience is an advantage. Aloomomo is potentially open to improvement over hurdles based on his chase form and with Johnson on board he is a danger getting weight from his main rivals.