14:40 Carlisle

Sunday 4 November 2018

All13:0013:3014:0514:4015:1015:4516:15

Cumberland Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:40 | Winning time: 6m 38.90s

Ballycross^p⁴⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-13| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 131

6/1

Took an age to open his chasing account finally doing so with the aid of the handicapper at Ffos Las (3m, heavy) keeping previous mistakes to a minimum. Squandered what looked to be a good opportunity to follow up; fair effort last time at Warwick.

Form: 4P41-24

Cooking Fat^b¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Henry Brooke| T: Miss P Robson| OR: 130

13/2

First-time blinkers appeared to do the trick when he scored on his second start for this yard at Perth in July (travelled well). Remained competitive off his new mark here last time over slightly shorter; should continue to run well.

Form: 253-413

Looksnowtlikebrian¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: R Johnson| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 129| C

4/1

Has a good strike-rate over fences (3-5) despite the propensity to make mistakes and it's interesting that connections return him here (won here last month). These easier fences appear to suit but suspicion errors may find him out in this contest.

Form: 8/2116-1

Valadom^t³⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Alain Cawley| T: R Hobson| OR: 128

12/1

Useful chaser a couple of years ago and showed that some ability remains when returning from a 16 month absence over hurdles. 6lb below his last winning mark today so potentially well handicapped if he can build on that effort back over fences.

Form: 40/4U4-2

Dauphine Ereine^t¹⁵⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe| OR: 126WS

9/2

3-3 over fences in France (all over shorter trips than this) she's run consistently for this yard without winning and looks summed up by her current mark. Has had a recent wind op though and that may illicit some improvement.

Form: 113/23-4

Lough Derg Jewel³⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 126

20/1

Won his first two starts over fences (made all/jumped well both times) but disappointed twice after that. Shaped better than the distance he was beaten last time (back from a break); one to consider in this slightly easier contest.

Form: 2/117-36

Harry The Viking^p¹⁹¹

Age: 13| Weight: 11-5| J: Rachel McDonald⁽⁵⁾| T: A M Thomson| OR: 123| CD

20/1

Winner of this last year (off 2lb higher) but does have his own ideas about the game and now in the veteran stage of his career. Always suited by a test such as this and not discounted at a course where he has a 3P21 record.

Form: 49/13P7-

Blakemount¹⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 11-5| J: J E Moore| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 123| CD

14/1

Twice a winner here (once over C&D) he shaped well in the spring in a better race than this at Kelso in the mud. Looked rusty on his comeback run here last month and may do better now off a falling mark but hard to assess at present.

Form: 256/64-0

Bako De La Saulaie²²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Craig Nichol| T: R Dobbin| OR: 120

9/2

A winner over hurdles he's having trouble cracking the winning code over fences despite some sound placed efforts. May have needed his comeback run (yard not quite firing yet) and dropped a further 2lb; travels well but needs to finish his races.

Form: 1/4224-3

Yanmare^t²⁰¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: Jamie Bargary| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 106

14/1

A bit of an enigma who has his own way of going through races (on and off the bridle) but tends to find plenty for pressure. Remains 1lb above his last winning mark but has been getting progressively lazier in his recent runs; needs extreme trips.

Form: 3/F157P-

Non-Runners

Morning Royalty⁶⁹

Weight: 11-7| Age: 11

T: James Moffatt J: Non Runner

Chef D'Oeuvre²⁹³

Weight: 11-4| Age: 7

T: S England J: Jonathan England

Forecasts

Looksnowtlikebrian (4/1), Bako De La Saulaie (9/2), Dauphine Ereine (9/2), Ballycross (6/1), Cooking Fat (13/2), Chef D'Oeuvre (8/1), Valadom (12/1), Blakemount (14/1), Morning Royalty (14/1), Yanmare (14/1), Harry The Viking (20/1), Lough Derg Jewel (20/1)

Very few of these have outstanding claims and last year’s winner Harry The Viking despite his advancing age should go well again for Rachel McDonald who knows his quirks well. C&D winner Blakemount looked to have needed his comeback run but really needs softer ground than this while Lough Derg Jewel will enjoy this quicker surface and is one for the shortlist. COOKING FAT ran well here last time over shorter despite being 10lb above his last winning mark looks the sort to enjoy this test. Bako De La Saulaie isn’t out of this but has proved expensive to follow over fences with Looksnowtlikebrian not discounted although his jumping remains a worry.