14:30 Carlisle

Sunday 5 November 2017

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

Cumberland Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:31 | Winning time: 6m 58.4s

Chef D'Oeuvre²²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: R Johnson| T: W Greatrex| OR: 130| BF

11/2

Bolted up at Hereford on heavy ground last winter before twice being beaten as favourite with jumping the problem. That remains the biggest concern but more than capable off this mark if it holds up.

Form: U241U3-

Abracadabra Sivola^p¹⁵⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: David Noonan| T: D Pipe| OR: 130

16/1

Showed stamina his trump card with 3m4½f Taunton win in March. Shade disappointing latest but ought to be competitive off this mark and trainer does well here.

Form: 8P1P-37

Russe Blanc^b²²⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: B S Hughes| T: Kerry Lee| OR: 128| CD

12/1

Comfortably his best of four races last season came over C&D when a close second. 1lb lower now so a repeat of that effort would put him right in the mix. Fitness first time out the key.

Form: P692P5-

Blameitalonmyroots²⁴⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Thomas Garner⁽³⁾| T: O Sherwood| OR: 128

12/1

Yet to show effectiveness in efforts beyond 3m although tried as far as 3m6½f so clearly thought of as a stayer. Seven pounds higher than for win at Kempton over 3m on penultimate start when he looked like needing further.

Form: U4/3P14-

Templeross²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 128| BF

13/2

Useful hurdler at up to 3m. May have needed the run over a likely inadequate 2m4f on chasing debut last month. Interesting runner here avoiding novice options for trainer bang in form.

Form: 41023-4

Tomkevi^p¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Tony Kelly| T: R Menzies| OR: 127

12/1

Comfortable winner of a four runner chase at Hexham in May. Well behind on reappearance over hurdles but strip fitter here. 10lb higher now over fences.

Form: 21P2-15

Two Smokin Barrels²⁰⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: R T Dunne| T: M Scudamore| OR: 127

12/1

Made a fine start over fences winning four of first five before below par run to end last season. Won twice over 3m but not looked like she wanted much further so stamina the question mark here.

Form: 111416-

Topper Thornton¹⁸⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: N D Fehily| T: A M Hales| OR: 126| BF

12/1

Dual Down Royal winner campaigned at up to 3m5f in Ireland. Makes stable debut here and while he isn't attractively handicapped the jockey booking makes him worth a second look.

Form: 8P039-8

Beggars Cross³¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Aidan Coleman| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 126

6/1

Lightly raced but four time winner at up to 3m including Warwick reappearance. 6lb higher here but often looked like would appreciate this sort of test for trainer best with staying chasers. Respected.

Form: 441F3-1

Waldorf Salad²³¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: L Treadwell| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 125

10/1

Three-time chase winner was largely disappointing in four starts last season. 6lb below last winning mark for highly respected trainer but has to prove ability remains and effectiveness at beyond 3m.

Form: P1/PP73-

A Good Skin¹³⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: Adrian Heskin| T: T R George| OR: 123| BF| D

10/1

Twice ran respectably at Cheltenham festivals over fences and dangerously well handicapped after over two year drought. Lost way earlier in year so interesting if revived by break.

Form: 4905-24

Cadeau George^p²²⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: D A Jacob| T: B Pauling| OR: 122| D

14/1

Over two years since he last tackled fences and finished last season in poor form over hurdles. Argument that he is well handicapped but must show wellbeing before could be confident.

Form: P/31788-

Harry The Viking^p¹⁹¹

Age: 12| Weight: 11-3| J: Rachel McDonald⁽⁷⁾| T: A M Thomson| OR: 121| D

16/1

Admirable veteran but probably high enough in weights for now and prefers extreme stamina tests. First time out and no surprise if he struggles to maintain form with teens fast approaching.

Form: 217449-

Bindon Mill¹²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Nick Scholfield| T: V R A Dartnall| OR: 120

14/1

Much improved when upped to 3m first time at Exeter but unable to fulfil that promise with jumping errors at same venue both subsequent starts. Not impossible if he can iron out those mistakes.

Form: 42514-4

Presented¹⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 10-0| J: Ross Chapman⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss L Harrison| OR: 103

14/1

Highly experienced chaser who ran well over C&D last month only beaten 1L. Handicapper raises him 4lbs but still 1lb out of the handicap in notably tougher race.

Form: 4422P2

Forecasts

Chef D'Oeuvre (11/2), Beggars Cross (6/1), Templeross (13/2), A Good Skin (10/1), Waldorf Salad (10/1), Topper Thornton (12/1), Russe Blanc (12/1), Blameitalonmyroots (12/1), Tomkevi (12/1), Two Smokin Barrels (12/1), Presented (14/1), Bindon Mill (14/1), Cadeau George (14/1), Harry The Viking (16/1), Abracadabra Sivola (16/1)

Jonjo O'Neill's BEGGARS CROSS won well on his reappearance and looks set to be better still with this sort of stamina test looking like what he wants. He is preferred to Chef D'oeuvre who is definitely capable but not the most fluent at his fences. Classy hurdler Templeross is an interesting runner for top connections and he could clearly be well treated in just his second chase run.