14:25 Carlisle

Sunday 24 March 2019

All14:2514:5515:3016:0016:3517:1017:40

Watch Irish Racing On Racingtv Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 14:25 | Winning time: 4m 49.7s

Captain Zebo⁹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr John Dixon⁽⁷⁾| T: J E Dixon| OR: 124| CD

5/4

Stayed-on to win over C&D in December (soft), making it 2-2 for this stable for the former Gordon Elliott inmate. Double penalty will make it tougher, but have to afford him plenty of respect in his hat-trick bid.

Form: 1P-3411

Ain't My Fault^t⁶⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: S Mulqueen⁽³⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 115

11/1

Irish point winner who ran well here in December (2m1f, soft), but couldn't build on that in a handicap last time. Reverts to novice company needing to bounce back.

Form: 4-15427

Battys Dilemma⁷⁸⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: D A Jacob| T: B Pauling

4/1

Won an Irish point on debut in January 2017 (soft), but not seen since. Cost £60,000 just after that success. First foal of a half-sister to two hurdle winners at up to 2m5f. In good hands and a market check strongly advised ahead of debut.

Form: 1/

Flying Dismount¹⁴⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Thomas Willmott⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss S E Forster

150/1

Has gone off at big prices and been well held in both starts over hurdles. Not totally devoid of promise, but more likely to appeal when he has a handicap mark to work with.

Form: P-85

Moon Rua¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Ross Chapman| T: Mrs S A Watt

250/1

Runner-up in an Irish point (soft) in December, but yet to show even that form in three hurdles starts. Can only watch for the time being.

Form: 44260P

Native Fighter¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Joe Colliver| T: Jedd O'Keeffe

14/1

OR 78 on the Flat, where he has won twice on both turf and AW. Well held on hurdles debut at Musselburgh earlier in the month, but still showed some promise. Concern over softer ground, but could finish closer to the money if he handles it.

Form: 6

Pogue²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 117| BF

9/4

Won an Irish point (good) on his second start and ran well on soft on his hurdles debut at Bangor in December (2m3f). Beaten just ¾L when odds-on at Kelso (2m) last time, and looks a contender again here.

Form: 2132

Non-Runners

Dramatic Pause⁸⁷

Weight: 11-0| Age: 6

T: T Symonds J: Thomas Bellamy

Forecasts

Captain Zebo (5/4), Pogue (9/4), Battys Dilemma (4/1), Ain't My Fault (11/1), Native Fighter (14/1), Dramatic Pause (25/1), Flying Dismount (150/1), Moon Rua (250/1)

Battys Dilemma is very interesting here, and with Ben Pauling's team having been in decent nick of late, it would be no surprise to see him win on his rules debut, just as he did as a pointer. However, he does still have well being to prove and there are no concerns on that score with POGUE, who can make a successful return to this sort of trip. Captain Zebo is very much respected, but will do well to defy a double penalty, while Native Fighter and Ain't My Fault are not forlorn hopes.