17:00 Carlisle

Sunday 8 April 2018

All13:5014:2014:5015:2515:5516:3017:0017:30

US Masters Betting At 188Bet Novices' Handicap Chase

Off time: 17:00 | Winning time: 5m 50.33s

Asking Questions^t,v³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 12-2| J: Harry Skelton| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 107| CD

5/2

Broke his maiden at the first time of asking over fences when winning on heavy ground over C&D last timeout. Has to defy an 8lb rise for that success but remains of interest today.

Form: 826361

Romulus Du Donjon¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Lorcan Murtagh⁽⁵⁾| T: R Dobbin| OR: 103

6/1

Successful twice over hurdles and put a disappointing chase debut behind him when finishing third over an extended 3m here two weeks ago. Drop in trip not certain to suit today.

Form: 517453

Motion To Strike⁵⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: Ross Chapman⁽³⁾| T: Mrs J Stephen| OR: 92

14/1

Finished runner-up in a 2m handicap hurdle at Perth (good-to-soft) last August but well held on his return from a break at Catterick in February. Making his debut over fences today.

Form: 8-29728

Podili Road^v1⁶⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 86

18/1

Well held on all five starts to date including on handicap debut over hurdles at Towcester (2m3f, soft) last time. Wears a visor for the first time today and market support would be interesting on chase debut.

Form: 94080

Fit For Fifty⁷²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 84

13/2

Ten race maiden and placed twice over hurdles. Well held at Doncaster last time out but chances of improvement now switched to fences.

Form: 56-3749

Bill D'Aron^b1¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-7| J: W T Kennedy| T: J Ewart| OR: 84

10/1

Placed over hurdles here on good ground in May 2016. Disappointing in two starts since returning from a long absence and wears blinkers for the first time now switched to fences.

Form: 7P/3-79

Court Painter^p¹³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-4| J: Thomas Dowson⁽³⁾| T: V Thompson| OR: 81

14/1

Career best effort when wearing cheekpieces (retained) for the first time when finishing third at Market Rasen (good-to-soft). Interesting to see how he fares today.

Form: P4P5P3

Court Baloo⁹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-4| J: Grant Cockburn⁽³⁾| T: A C Whillans| OR: 81WS

6/1

Dual hurdles winner including over 3m at Musselburgh (good) in November. Had a wind operation since finishing runner-up subsequently and is making his debut over fences today.

Form: 339412

Heritage Way¹³

Age: 9| Weight: 10-3| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: H Hogarth| OR: 80

100/1

Bumper winner at Ayr in 2014 but had just four starts since and pulled up on his return from a long absence on chasing debut last time out.

Form: 1098/P

Mr Witmore^b²⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: Henry Brooke| T: Kenny Johnson| OR: 79

13/2

Finished behind Asking Questions here last month but followed that up with a victory over 2m4f at Hexham (heavy) last time. Has to defy a 4lb rise for that success but is an interesting runner receiving weight from all of his rivals today.

Form: 35U421

Non-Runners

Mahlerdramatic¹³

Weight: 11-4| Age: 8

T: B Ellison J: Danny Cook

Sporting Milan³⁰

Weight: 11-3| Age: 7

T: W Coltherd J: Sam Coltherd

Lady London⁹⁵

Weight: 11-1| Age: 7

T: R Dobbin J: C O'Farrell

Dun Faw Good²³

Weight: 11-0| Age: 11

T: J Walton J: Miss C Walton

Forecasts

Asking Questions (5/2), Dun Faw Good (11/2), Romulus Du Donjon (6/1), Court Baloo (6/1), Mr Witmore (13/2), Fit For Fifty (13/2), Mahlerdramatic (7/1), Bill D'Aron (10/1), Lady London (12/1), Motion To Strike (14/1), Court Painter (14/1), Sporting Milan (16/1), Podili Road (18/1), Heritage Way (100/1)

The soft underfoot conditions should suit Hexham winner MR WITMORE and he can follow up last months victory by taking this competitive looking handicap contest. Court Baloo has had a wind operation since his most recent outing and can claim second on this occasion while top weight Asking Questions can finish third as he attempts to follow up his success on chasing debut here last time.