16:00 Carlisle

Saturday 31 March 2018

All13:4014:1514:5015:2516:0016:3517:10

25 Free Bets At totesport.com Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:01 | Winning time: 6m 30.96s

Luckime⁴⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: R T Dunne| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 120| D

5/2

Made all in what was effectively a match to score by 27L over this trip at Catterick last month; getting off the mark at the fourth attempt over hurdles. Looks a big player on handicap debut for yard going well.

Form: 2-57531

Volcanic^t²⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-11| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 119| C

5/2

Course winner, running consistently well in four starts of late, goes up slightly in trip after decent effort at Market Rasen last time, could be on a useful mark and one to pay attention to in betting.

Form: 33-3325

Letemgo⁴⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-9| J: Ross Chapman⁽³⁾| T: A B Hamilton| OR: 117| CD

11/2

Thriving ten-year-old comes here chasing a four-timer. Easy winner of a C&D handicap last month, has been hit with an 18lb hike for that success but dangerous to overlook.

Form: 536111

Skipthescales^p³³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Thomas Dowson⁽³⁾| T: P A Kirby| OR: 113

7/2

Winner on penultimate start at Newcastle in January (3m, soft), didn't fire next time at Ayr but could feasibly bounce back from 4lb higher than that winning mark.

Form: 314314

Native Optimist⁶⁵

Age: 11| Weight: 11-5| J: Finian O'Toole⁽³⁾| T: Mrs S Walton| OR: 113

33/1

Scored at Hexham in November on heavy ground from a mark of 100. Also ran well over C&D in December and, despite a poor run at Kelso since, has to be respected back here from only 3lb higher.

Form: 821727

Royal Salute^b,t⁵⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Jonathon Bewley⁽³⁾| T: G Bewley| OR: 112WS

33/1

Failed to complete in three starts this season since joining this yard, has undergone a wind operation since being pulled up at Catterick last month. Best watched unless betting suggests confidence.

Form: 13F-FPP

General Mahler^t⁵⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Nathan Moscrop⁽⁵⁾| T: B Ellison| OR: 110WS

10/1

Sole win was over 2m4f (soft) in a Sedgefield hurdles contest two years ago. Hasn't been running badly over fences this term and one worth noting on the back of a wind operation from what could be a promising mark.

Form: 4-05243

Geronimo²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: Alex Chadwick⁽⁷⁾| T: A M Thomson| OR: 107

14/1

Well-held second in both starts so far at Ayr, having lacked a turn of foot. Goes up in trip now and capable of being involved in the finish.

Form: 22

Forecasts

Volcanic (5/2), Luckime (5/2), Skipthescales (7/2), Letemgo (11/2), General Mahler (10/1), Geronimo (14/1), Royal Salute (33/1), Native Optimist (33/1)

Letemgo is thriving but his bid for the four-timer may have been foiled by the handicapper before it gets underway. Luckime is respected on handicap bow for a yard going well, but he'll surely have to step up on the bare form of his Catterick win to go in again. Geronimo should find this longer trip to his advantage and can get involved but GENERAL MAHLER is potentially on a decent mark. He's been going well enough over hurdles and if the wind operation sharpens him, he's got every chance back over timber.