14:00 Carlisle

Wednesday 12 September 2018

All13:3014:0014:3515:1015:4516:1516:5017:25

Smarkets Handicap (Div 2)

Off time: 14:01 | Winning time: 1m 43.49s

(5)

Mustaqbal²³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-10| J: Callum Rodriguez⁽³⁾| T: M Dods| OR: 70| D

4/1

Best recent effort came at Ayr in July when a close third in a better class race than this but that was on much quicker ground than he will encounter today. However, handles soft ground, so chances if coping with today's conditions.

Form: 536309

(4)

Westward Ho²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: D Allan| T: J D Bethell| OR: 67| D

7/1

Not seen much in recent times and this will only be his fourth run in 18 months. Plenty to prove as regards wellbeing and suitability of conditions, so not hard to look elsewhere.

Form: 310/86-0

(3)

Rampant Lion⁵³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: F Norton| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 71| BF

9/1

Only had the five starts so open to some improvement but he'll need it, as his last couple of efforts already make him look regressive, looking a little short of pace last time. Slower ground here may help, but needs to bounce back now.

Form: 65-344

(7)

Im Dapper Too²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-5| J: S H James| T: J J Davies| OR: 65| CD

9/2

Has some plus points, such as the fact he handles this track and heavy ground well, but three runs this season have been lacking. May be fitter now though, and perhaps an autumn campaign has been the plan all along. Not ruled out.

Form: 230-668

(6)

Abushamah^b¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 9-1| J: J P Sullivan| T: Mrs R Carr| OR: 61| D

9/1

Doesn't win enough to be totally confident about his chances but did finish second on heavy ground here around this time last year, and this trip is no issue. Last couple of efforts have been decent enough, and could easily go well today.

Form: 604635

(8)

Majeste⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: D Tudhope| T: Rebecca Bastiman| OR: 60

4/1

No win for over a couple of years now and this heavy ground and stiff finish will place plenty of demands on his stamina, which will come into question stepping up in trip today. Others make more appeal.

Form: 796774

(9)

Jackhammer²³

Age: 4| Weight: 8-10| J: Connor Murtagh⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs Dianne Sayer| OR: 55

20/1

Tried over hurdles and a variety of trips on the Flat but has only beaten a handful of horses home last six starts and is hard to fancy.

Form: 850-900

(1)

Power Sail^b,t¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-7| J: D Fentiman| T: T D Easterby| OR: 58

11/2

In good form at present and has been hard to pass when on a going day, as he showed when making all at Redcar (9f) in July. Very different ground conditions to cope with here is the worry, but chances if handling it.

Form: 8-60133

(2)

Kenmare River^h¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-5| J: P Hanagan| T: Jedd O'Keeffe| OR: 55

16/1

Yet to win in 8 starts but has run well on a couple of occasions and could improve if this softer ground doesn't inconvenience him. Poor effort last time out needs forgiving but hard to totally discount from calculations.

Form: 597368

Forecasts

Mustaqbal (4/1), Majeste (4/1), Im Dapper Too (9/2), Power Sail (11/2), Westward Ho (7/1), Rampant Lion (9/1), Abushamah (9/1), Kenmare River (16/1), Jackhammer (20/1)

ABUSHAMAH hardly has a solid profile but has form in heavy ground and that counts for plenty in a modest event. He should be staying on when plenty of others have had enough. Mustaqbal is capable of form in better grade then today's and does, to some extent, handle conditions, so may hit the frame. Kemmare River is a possible improver if handling this ground.