14:25 Carlisle

Sunday 3 December 2017

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

Northern Lights Staying Chase Series Final Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:25 | Winning time: 6m 33.36s

Tickenwolf²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Henry Brooke| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 121| D

10/1

Far from an easy ride as he showed when drifting quite markedly when winning at Hexham two starts back. Ran out next time and fell latest at Wetherby. Classy at his best but not the sort to ever be confident in.

Form: 44U1RF

Nortonthorpelegend²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: B S Hughes| T: R Menzies| OR: 114| C| D

7/1

Landed a hat-trick last winter but paid the price since off higher marks. Now just 1lb higher than last of those wins however so of interest here although he is yet to show top form in two starts this term.

Form: 1F4P-84

Golden Investment^h,t¹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: W T Kennedy| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 113| D

5/2

Ultra-consistent type who ended a run of seven placed runs with deserved win last time out at Wetherby. 7lb higher now so life tougher but not the sort you could rule out.

Form: 23-22V1

Purcell's Bridge^h²⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-3| J: Craig Nichol| T: R Dobbin| OR: 112| CD

12/1

Pulled up on reappearance at Hexham and well beaten at Wetherby last time out also. Back to same mark as last win at Haydock in March but would have to bounce back to take advantage.

Form: 2/714-P5

Buffalo Ballet¹⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 11-0| J: Lucy Alexander| T: N W Alexander| OR: 109

7/1

Lightly raced veteran who last won in January 2013. Ran well on return at Ayr over inadequate 2m4f but fourth last time back up to 3m just a fair effort. Handicap not the most appealing.

Form: 362U-24

Presented¹⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 10-8| J: Ross Chapman⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss L Harrison| OR: 103| D

5/1

Been kept busy of late but not won since July 2016. That said he has been running well and followed up two placed efforts here with a third at Ayr last time. Off the same mark today and should again go well.

Form: 22P233

Smuggler's Stash^p²³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-7| J: R D Day⁽³⁾| T: R Dobbin| OR: 102| C| D

4/1

Pulled up on return at Hexham but much better effort last time when second there. 2lb raise not enough to rule him out here and still of relatively low mileage.

Form: 3310-P2

Finaghy Ayr^p¹⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 10-4| J: D R Fox| T: I A Duncan| OR: 99| CD

16/1

Won a novices handicap over course and distance last season and only 4lb higher here. Ended last season disappointingly but not disgraced when fifth on return at Ayr. More needed but that is possible.

Form: 1/12FP-5

Basford Ben^b²⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-0| J: David Noonan| T: J Candlish| OR: 94| C| D

16/1

Well beaten in three races through the summer and again barely sighted on return at Wetherby last month. Hard to fancy on recent evidence.

Form: 83-55P6

Forecasts

Golden Investment (5/2), Smuggler's Stash (4/1), Presented (5/1), Nortonthorpelegend (7/1), Buffalo Ballet (7/1), Tickenwolf (10/1), Purcell's Bridge (12/1), Finaghy Ayr (16/1), Basford Ben (16/1)

It may pay here to chance SMUGGLER'S STASH who ran well last time out at Hexham and he looked one with more to come towards the end of last season too. A few of these are well handicapped if showing top form and they include Nortonthorpelegend and the consistent Presented.