17:00 Carlisle

Monday 18 June 2018

All14:1514:4515:2015:5016:2517:0017:30

Watch Racing UK On 3 Devices Handicap

Off time: 17:00 | Winning time: 2m 27.18s

(3)

Ad Libitum⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: T Hamilton| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 70

2/1

Gone close the last twice over 1m2f and been a tad unlucky. raised 3lbs for not winning but has shaped like this step up in trip would very much suit and will be a big player once again.

Form: 686522

(7)

Oskemen¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: D Nolan| T: D O'Meara| OR: 70

12/1

Mastercraftsman gelding hasn't been with David O'Meara all that long, bit disappointing on all three starts so far this year and needs to do much more to be involved in a finish.

Form: 942-606

(6)

Canadian George^p1¹¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: P Makin| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 70| BF

11/1

Has shaped like there is a race in him off this sort of mark and was backed into favouritism last time at Ripon (1m2f, good) but ran very poorly. Goes up in trip here but needs to do plenty more than that to be winning. Cheekpieces go on

Form: 342-466

(4)

Poetic Steps¹¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: J Fanning| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 69| C

10/3

Won at Musselburgh (1m4½f, good off 3lbs lower last month. two weaker efforts since but yards runners can bounce back to form and conditions are absolutely no problem so very much respected.

Form: 0-79148

(1)

Firby^h1³¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: P Mulrennan| T: J D Bethell| OR: 67

4/1

Ran well on first tow starts this year but took a backward step over 1m4f last time. Slight drop in trip and the hood goes on for the first time in an effort to eek out a bit more.

Form: 554-337

(5)

Ormesher¹⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: A Mullen| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 67

6/1

beaten 10L on handicap debut over 1m2f. Step up further in trip here and dropped 3lbs but more needed to be involved.

Form: 253-35

(8)

Claramara⁵⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: Jason Hart| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 59

33/1

Good effort in finishing runner-up over 7f at Carlisle (heavy) in September last year but pulled up having burst blood vessels on her only subsequent outing. Well beaten on reappearance however and yard also run Poetic Steps who seems first choice.

Form: 0272P-0

(2)

Finnion Fox⁵¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: D Allan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 58

20/1

Beaten a very long way on seasonal reappearance at Haydock (1m, soft). Steps up markedly in trip now and should come on for that first run but hard to fancy all the same unless the market screams his name.

Form: 5495-0

Forecasts

Ad Libitum (2/1), Poetic Steps (10/3), Firby (4/1), Ormesher (6/1), Canadian George (11/1), Oskemen (12/1), Finnion Fox (20/1), Claramara (33/1)

Several of these are out of form or just simply need to do much better. That is not the case for AD LIBITUM who is unlucky not to have won already this season and has shaped like this trip will really suit. The Johnston pair of Poetic Steps and Claramara are both capable of getting a win on the board here too should the selection fail.