14:05 Carlisle

Wednesday 22 August 2018

All14:0514:4015:1515:5016:2516:5517:2517:55

Smarkets Betting Exchange Handicap (Gentleman Amateur Riders)

Off time: 14:07 | Winning time: 1m 17.22s

(2)

Epeius¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Mr Dylan McDonagh⁽⁷⁾| T: B Haslam| OR: 65| D

17/2

Suited to the stiff finish when scoring under this rider at Hamilton in better company. His last two runs were better than they look and hard to dismiss on a track that will help.

Form: 6-63146

(6)

Cosmic Chatter^p³³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Mr Patrick Millman| T: Mrs R Carr| OR: 62| D

6/1

Likes Pontefract so should enjoy the stiff finish. Has had a disappointing season which sees him dropped to a career low. Good amateur booked so worth noting if backed.

Form: 035044

(5)

Evanescent²⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-3| J: Mr Simon Walker| T: Mrs Stella Barclay| OR: 61| D

33/1

All eight victories have come on turf and he was placed off a mark of 73 last summer. Needs a soft surface and best to overlook his AW efforts. Leading amateur booked and that looks significant given his lenient weight.

Form: 299866

(7)

Arcanista^b²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Mr M S Harris⁽⁷⁾| T: C A Dwyer| OR: 60| D

15/2

Record of 1-40 tells a story and she was outbattled on two occasions at Yarmouth this year when runner-up. That success came for this rider but she failed to deliver for him last time.

Form: 958228

(8)

Maureb^p¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Mr Kaine Wood⁽³⁾| T: T Coyle & K Wood| OR: 60| CD

8/1

Much better last time and has slipped to a handy mark. Has won here three times and has a very good rider on top. Merits serious consideration if conditions dry out.

Form: 833793

(1)

Shortbackandsides¹⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 11-2| J: Mr William Easterby⁽³⁾| T: T D Easterby| OR: 63

11/4

Promoted to third having been hampered on stable debut last week. Yet to win but best effort for previous yard came on a stiff track with give underfoot. Hard to overlook if conditions remain on the easy side.

Form: 729843

(11)

First Bombardment^t⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: Mr J J Codd| T: G Elliott| OR: 59| BF

7/2

Won two races for David O'Meara but has never been easy to win with and he barely stayed 5f. Respected for these connections but hard to see him getting the extra furlong on a track like this.

Form: 0308-44

(12)

Scenery^p³⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 11-1| J: Billy Garritty⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs Marjorie Fife| OR: 62

11/1

Strong traveller who tends to find little. Debuts for new yard having been claimed out of a seller and it has to be seen if a change of scenery has sweetened him up.

Form: 0-99823

(3)

Ypres^p,h²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-8| J: Mr James Killeen⁽⁷⁾| T: J Ward| OR: 52| CD

28/1

Dual C&D winner whose best efforts have come on a faster surface than appears likely here. Rider seeking his first winner.

Form: 960-003

(9)

Rockley Point^b¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-5| J: Bruce Lynn⁽³⁾| T: K Scott| OR: 49

40/1

Record is a mere 1-35 and a drop down to this grade has not provoked a satisfactory response.

Form: 275999

(10)

Building Year^t⁷⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-5| J: Thomas Reilly⁽⁷⁾| T: J C McConnell| OR: 49

25/1

Little obvious chance on form but unexposed and from a yard that are 18-58 on their GB raids since 2014.

Form: 9/0608

(13)

Raise A Billion¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: Tom Midgley⁽⁷⁾| T: A Berry| OR: 45| D

150/1

Only success came at Hamilton in 2015. Has done little this term to suggest he will be among the principals.

Form: 677970

(4)

Kirkby's Phantom²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-2| J: Mr Danny Kerr⁽⁷⁾| T: A Berry| OR: 45

250/1

Has failed to make the frame in 16 starts. Officially rated 16lb lower than today's mark and readily opposed.

Form: 877098

Forecasts

Shortbackandsides (11/4), First Bombardment (7/2), Cosmic Chatter (6/1), Arcanista (15/2), Maureb (8/1), Epeius (17/2), Scenery (11/1), Building Year (25/1), Ypres (28/1), Evanescent (33/1), Rockley Point (40/1), Raise A Billion (150/1), Kirkby's Phantom (250/1)

This is a difficult race to call with conditions currently on the soft side but with dry weather forecast. Course specialist Maureb makes plenty of appeal on these terms under a very good rider but needs quicker ground. Evanescent's recent form figures are unappealing but have been gained on AW tracks and he is far more effective on turf when there is "soft" in the description. Cosmic Chatter is down to an attractive mark and the jockey booking looks significant but the vote goes to SHORTBACKANDSIDES. Tim Easterby's charge travelled well for a long way on Friday and was hampered at a crucial stage. He acts on any ground and can go close in this company.