15:25 Carlisle

Sunday 25 March 2018

All14:1514:5015:2516:0016:3517:1017:45

In Play Betting At 188Bet Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:26 | Winning time: 4m 50.34s

Slanelough^h³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Craig Nichol| T: R Dobbin| OR: 130| C| D

11/4

Recorded a gutsy win at Doncaster over a similar trip (soft) in January and was only just touched off here over C&D (heavy) after an 8lb rise last time. Has to be on short-lists again from the same mark.

Form: 172312

Tonto's Spirit^h⁵⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Robert Hogg⁽⁷⁾| T: Kenneth Slack| OR: 121| BF| C

11/4

Has won around here over 2m1f, but sees out this trip and goes well on soft ground. Recent form, however, suggests that he is exposed from this mark and probably again has place claims at best.

Form: 10-7334

Rhymers Stone^p⁸²

Age: 10| Weight: 11-1| J: Callum Bewley⁽³⁾| T: Mrs H O Graham| OR: 119| C

10/1

Returned from a seven-month absence to win first time back here (2m1f, soft) in November. 3lb rise/return to 2m5½f accounted for him in better company at Ayr last time and he needs to get back on track.

Form: 4212-17

Tomkevi^p,t²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: B S Hughes| T: R Menzies| OR: 118| D

9/2

Back to form with a 6L win in a 0-120 handicap hurdle at Southwell (3m, soft) earlier in the month. Up a fair 6lb for that and chase mark suggests there is still a little bit to play with here, so he again enters calculations.

Form: 7U5531

American Craftsman^p⁴⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 10-13| J: Joe Colliver| T: Jedd O'Keeffe| OR: 125

16/1

Won a juvenile contest at Wetherby (2m, good) in October and ran well back there in Listed company next time. Out of sorts on last two starts, one of those being on soft. Has a squeak at the weights on handicap debut if he can bounce back.

Form: 134

Apache Jack^v⁵³

Age: 10| Weight: 10-10| J: R Johnson| T: S R B Crawford| OR: 114

6/1

Made the frame from 1lb higher in a Cartmel chase last year, but has not reached that level in six starts since. Sliding in the weights and becomes interesting again with the champion receiving the leg-up.

Form: P09447

Pistol³⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 10-9| J: Mr John Dixon⁽⁷⁾| T: J E Dixon| OR: 113| CD

12/1

Not as good as he was a couple of years ago but goes well here and scored over 2m1f (heavy) at the track last time. 9lb rise for that 5L success will make things tough and he is likely to need to raise things another notch or two. Stays this trip.

Form: 667271

Wyfield Rose^p²³⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 10-0| J: Henry Brooke| T: A C Whillans| OR: 103WS

33/1

Has won from significantly higher marks in the past. Best at around 3m and after a poor 2017 she has slipped in the handicap and now had a wind op. Market check looks prudent.

Form: P0-U455

Modulus^v¹²

Age: 9| Weight: 10-0| J: Ryan Winks⁽⁵⁾| T: P Winks| OR: 102

33/1

Won four times last year at up to 2m4f, all on soft or heavy ground. Has not been in that sort of form this term, but is back on a dangerous mark and would be interesting if supported.

Form: 1-80585

Forecasts

Tonto's Spirit (11/4), Slanelough (11/4), Tomkevi (9/2), Apache Jack (6/1), Rhymers Stone (10/1), Pistol (12/1), American Craftsman (16/1), Modulus (33/1), Wyfield Rose (33/1)

It is interesting that Richard Johnson is on board Apache Jack and Stuart Crawford's 10-year-old may be on the verge of a revival in fortunes as a result, so he is very much respected. However, TOMKEVI arrives in decent nick after a decisive win last time and could still have more to offer from today's 6lb higher mark. Slanelough is feared despite top weight, while Pistol will need to be fully firing to defy a 9lb hike.