13:55 Carlisle

Sunday 3 December 2017

All12:2012:5013:2013:5514:2515:0015:30

Northern Lights Two Mile Hurdle Series Final Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 13:55 | Winning time: 4m 21.0s

Lough Kent⁹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Charlotte Jones⁽¹⁰⁾| T: James Moffatt| OR: 119| D

6/1

Won twice in the summer at Cartmel before finishing second there. Below par at same venue when last seen and had a break since. Won twice on deeper ground in France earlier in career so should handle this softer surface.

Form: 05-1124

Jet Master^h,t¹⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 11-9| J: Lucy Alexander| T: N W Alexander| OR: 116| D

7/1

Took advantage of lower hurdles mark when winning a small field hurdle on return at Perth. Midfield at Kelso next before return to fences last time out. Not getting any younger and looks vulnerable off current mark.

Form: 43-5164

Meadowcroft Boy²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: Kieron Edgar⁽³⁾| T: A C Whillans| OR: 115| BF| CD

5/2

Never really built on the promise he showed early in his career but won nicely at Kelso two starts back and almost followed up here last time out. Could be ready to have a breakthrough season now and looks a leading player here.

Form: 55P-912

Craig Star^p³⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: W T Kennedy| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 113

5/1

Won easily at Kelso two starts back before unseating in a race won by Meadowcroft Boy last time out at the same venue. Still held a chance until unseating and 8lb better off with Meadowcroft Boy today.

Form: 34331U

Monfass^h⁴⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Craig Nichol| T: R Dobbin| OR: 107| D

14/1

Won a novices handicap last March at Doncaster but struggled in three starts since. Well beaten on return here six weeks ago and despite falling handicap mark he has a bit to prove at present.

Form: 45177-8

Pistol^p¹¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: Mr John Dixon⁽⁷⁾| T: J E Dixon| OR: 107| CD

14/1

Won twice here on heavy ground so conditions ought to be ideal today. Second at Hexham latest albeit well beaten but some 13lb below last winning mark now and surely capable of a good run here.

Form: 44-6672

Dakota Grey⁶⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: Henry Brooke| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 100| CD

10/1

Pulled up on last four starts last season and little better in two starts this term. Last of four behind Jet Master at Kelso latest and very hard to fancy at present.

Form: PPPP-64

Bahrikate^t²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 10-3| J: James Corbett⁽⁵⁾| T: S Corbett| OR: 96

4/1

Beaten just ½L into third here last time out and ran well enough the time before when fourth behind Meadowcroft Boy. 6lb better off with that rival today so ought to get a bit closer and can't be ruled out given her youth.

Form: 1-36443

Tomahawk Wood¹¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-1| J: Callum Whillans⁽³⁾| T: D W Whillans| OR: 94

20/1

Pulled up behind Clan Legend at Hexham on return last month (Pistol second). Laboured in both starts after a win last January to end last season too so questions to answer at present.

Form: 1/5158-P

Forecasts

Meadowcroft Boy (5/2), Bahrikate (4/1), Craig Star (5/1), Lough Kent (6/1), Jet Master (7/1), Dakota Grey (10/1), Monfass (14/1), Pistol (14/1), Tomahawk Wood (20/1)

MEADOWCROFT BOY looks like belatedly fulfilling some of the promise of his early career after good efforts in his two recent runs and he can continue the upward curve here. Craig Star may have given him a race at Kelso but for unseating and he must be a danger today given he is 8lb better off this time round. Pistol likes it here and will have his ground today. He remains off a dangerously low mark so is one who can't be underestimated.