15:45 Carlisle

Monday 21 May 2018

All14:1514:4515:1515:4516:1516:4517:1517:45

Smarkets Betting Exchange Thursby Handicap

Off time: 15:46 | Winning time: 1m 37.56s

(5)

Raselasad²³²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: K Stott| T: Miss Tracy Waggott| OR: 87

5/2

Makes his seasonal debut here having gone close on his last run of 2017. 2lb higher now but versatile as regards the ground and can't be ruled out stepping back up in trip.

Form: 125512-

(3)

Regarde Moi^t1³⁶²

Age: 10| Weight: 9-7| J: Connor Murtagh⁽⁵⁾| T: M A Barnes| OR: 82| BF| D

100/1

Fine overall strike-rate but most of those wins came when trained over in France. Just a solitary Southwell claiming victory to his name since moving to Britain and so makes little appeal on stable debut.

Form: 331469-

(1)

Pensax Boy¹⁵⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: T Eaves| T: D M Loughnane| OR: 82| CD

7/2

Best form is over this trip so return to this distance is a positive. Down 3lb from moderate run at Wolverhampton in December but not always the most consistent.

Form: 651098-

(7)

Aclimatise³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: P J McDonald| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 80| D

5/2

Runner-up at Hamilton last time out was easily his best in handicap company to date and he was good enough to win at Thirsk maiden last summer over this trip; leading claims off 2lb lower.

Form: 021-552

(2)

Destroyer²⁵³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: A Mullen| T: T P Tate| OR: 79| D

5/1

Form tailed off a little towards the end of last season off only a slightly higher mark than he was last seen winning off. If at his best for this seasonal return he has every chance on his best form.

Form: 241498-

(4)

Etikaal²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: P Makin| T: Grant Tuer| OR: 79

40/1

Second run of the year and second run after wind surgery, but has failed to beat a rival home the last twice and still 4lb higher than when winning a weak Chelmsford handicap last May.

Form: 6/6189-0

(8)

Kupa River^h²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: T Hamilton| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 79| BF| D

14/1

Two efforts so far this year have left plenty to be desired, but they were in more competitive handicaps than this, and the return to a smaller field may well suit.

Form: 3102-70

(6)

Diamonds A Dancing^h²⁵⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 8-11| J: Nathan Evans| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 72| C| D

20/1

Not at his best on his final start of 2017 and steps back in trip markedly here off the same mark. Has won over this trip in the past though so that shouldn't be an issue, and ground is fine.

Form: 513127-

Forecasts

Aclimatise (5/2), Raselasad (5/2), Pensax Boy (7/2), Destroyer (5/1), Kupa River (14/1), Diamonds A Dancing (20/1), Etikaal (40/1), Regarde Moi (100/1)

Kupa River should be able to put in a better performance now in a smaller field, while Diamonds A Dancing should go well on seasonal return. Preference, though, is for ACLIMATISE. Runner-up at Hamilton last time out and dropped 2lb here (perhaps somewhat generously), Mark Johnston's charge has an excellent chance here of picking up a second career win, and a first in handicaps.