15:10 Carlisle

Monday 13 November 2017

All13:0013:3014:0514:3515:1015:40

Bet At racinguk.com Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:10 | Winning time: 5m 9.45s

Granville Island²⁷⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J Candlish| OR: 122

14/1

Hasn't won since January 2014 (2m3f Catterick), albeit after fairly quiet calendar years in 2016 and 2017. Well suited by cut, and back to his last winning mark, but with a nine month absence to overcome.

Form: 3U/2658-

Un Guet Apens^p²³³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Steven Fox⁽⁵⁾| T: J Ewart| OR: 120| C

11/1

A runner up on his last couple of starts over hurdles in the spring, including when beaten 8L by Rhymers Stone at Kelso in March (2m5f heavy). 13lb below his last start over fences in March 2015; a course winner and from a stable in form.

Form: 635/P22-

Spanish Fleet²¹⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-11| J: B S Hughes| T: G Bewley| OR: 119| CD

12/1

Solid for the majority of last season (four time runner up), and all of his winning form over hurdles has come at Carlisle. Can go well fresh, and was a 4½L runner up to Palm Grey in this contest in 2016.

Form: 222259-

Calivigny^p¹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Grant Cockburn⁽³⁾| T: N W Alexander| OR: 115| D

10/3

Ran well in cheek-pieces on his seasonal reappearance over C&D last month (heavy), beaten 1L by the gallant front-runner Never Up. Raised 2lb, but rider claims 3lb, so effectively 1lb lower, and the third placed Western Jo won at Hexham on Friday.

Form: P6247-2

Argentix¹³⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 115| D

14/1

Beaten 6L by Tangolan on stable and UK debut at Perth in July (2m4f good). Raised 4lb and absent since, but this winner in France for Louisa Carberry will almost certainly handle the forecast conditions.

Form: 3/19-2

Witness²⁴⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: Finian O'Toole⁽⁵⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 105

33/1

Has a fairly lengthy career in France (hurdles and chase winner) but yet to really progress in seven starts in the UK for this trainer. Falling in the weights, and off since March, but not one to consider at present.

Form: 434P34-

Tikkandemickey^p¹⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 10-11| J: Callum Bewley⁽³⁾| T: R Shiels| OR: 105| CD

8/1

Veteran mudlark who is well suited by both Carlisle and Hexham. Not won since October 2016 (C&D), and fourth in this in 2016, but 2lb below his last winning mark, with his trainer supplying a well backed winner at Hexham on Friday.

Form: 2P30-55

Achill Road Boy¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-9| J: Sam Coltherd⁽⁵⁾| T: W Coltherd| OR: 103| D

11/2

Hasn't always been the most fluent of fencers, but has won over both hurdles and fences with cut (2m4f to 2m5f+). Beaten just a neck by Havana Jack at Kelso latest (just failed), but given a 3lb rise in the weights.

Form: 4317-72

Dartford Warbler¹⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 10-8| J: Danny Cook| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 102| C| D

5/2

Not managed to get his head in front for many a moon, and is much more effective over hurdles than fences, as he demonstrated when given a chance by the assessor at Uttoxeter earlier this month (beaten a neck by Cobolobo).

Form: 0345-62

Brother Scott¹⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-4| J: Thomas Dowson⁽⁵⁾| T: B Butterworth| OR: 98| D

25/1

Has lost his way again following a productive spell in mid summer (dual 2m5f Cartmel scorer for Sue Smith). Hasn't always been a horse to trust implicitly in terms of his finishing effort and looks high enough in the weights now.

Form: 162206

Forecasts

Dartford Warbler (5/2), Calivigny (10/3), Achill Road Boy (11/2), Tikkandemickey (8/1), Un Guet Apens (11/1), Spanish Fleet (12/1), Argentix (14/1), Granville Island (14/1), Brother Scott (25/1), Witness (33/1)

It is entirely plausible to build a solid case for a number of these runners in an open looking contest. Spanish Fleet was runner up in this race in 2016 (Tikkandemickey fourth), and whilst he's not won in absolutely ages (fences maiden) he saves his best efforts for Carlisle. Both Achill Road Boy and Dartford Warbler return as narrowly beaten recent runners up, whilst Un Guet Apens is well handicapped on the pick of his chasing form for a trainer back amongst the winners of late (James Ewart). However, with the unfortunate Lucy Alexander once more on the sidelines, CALIVIGNY sees his recent 2lb rise effectively negated via the 3lb claim of stand-in rider Grant Cockburn. The Nick Alexander trained eight-year-old posted a most taking effort (from off the pace) when getting to within 1L of the gallant front-runner Never Up over C&D on his seasonal reappearance last month. Slightly less testing ground conditions this afternoon will play to the strengths of Calivigny, and that form appears rock-solid with the third placed horse, the improving Western Jo, a game winner at Hexham on Friday.