16:35 Carlisle

Saturday 20 April 2019

All13:4014:1514:5015:2516:0016:3517:10

Upperby Novices' Handicap Chase

Off time: 16:36 | Winning time: 5m 26.30s

Samtu^p²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 12-6| J: Billy Garritty⁽⁷⁾| T: F P Murtagh| OR: 107

6/1

Made a sound start to his chasing career (off an advantageous mark) at Musselburgh before suffering a crashing fall on his follow up bid at the same track. Way below form last time out returned to hurdles; remains with potential in this sphere.

Form: 5271F5

Petite Ganache^p⁶¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Sean Quinlan| T: N G Richards| OR: 99

6/5

Finally off the mark over hurdles at Newcastle (2m6f) in January having flirted with winning on a few prior occasions (avoiding mistakes this time). Failed to convince on follow up bid (uneasy in market); now makes his chasing debut off same mark.

Form: 3UF315

Aquarian^p²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: R P McLernon| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 97

11/2

Found a race lacking in depth at Huntingdon to record his sole hurdling win; hasn't found anything like the same level in three starts since. Cheekpieces worn for his win now refitted as he goes chasing for the first time of a reasonable mark.

Form: 741535

Maureen's Star²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: A W Short⁽³⁾| T: L Lennon| OR: 89

11/1

Returned to form via a fortunate hurdles win last July at Perth off a 1lb higher mark (left in front at the last, all out to hold on). Has looked well below-par over both hurdles/fences in recent months; really struggled last time out.

Form: 749888

Louloumills^t¹⁸¹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-10| J: D B Hurst⁽¹⁰⁾| T: M A Barnes| OR: 83

12/1

With a 1-33 career record she's hardly the soundest proposition in this line-up having come to fences at a fairly late juncture. Stays further than this but finished a very fragile second when last seen; others make far more appeal.

Form: 5265F2

Eager To Know¹⁸⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-7| J: Alain Cawley| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 80

6/1

Back from a break which needs to have refreshed him as his form prior to that was very frail (pulled up in two of his last three starts). Has been placed over fences but has often failed to convince with his jumping; best watched for now.

Form: 238P3P

News For Pascal⁴⁵

Age: 11| Weight: 10-6| J: J Kington| T: S G West| OR: 79

16/1

Dual point-to-point winner who has yet to score under Rules (0-21) but has been given some stiff tasks in his chasing exploits. Way out of his depth last time in novice company at least a handicap will give him a bit more chance.

Form: 200932

Roll Of Thunder²⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 10-0| J: C O'Farrell| T: J Walton| OR: 71

14/1

Potentially very well handicapped on his old hurdles form (placed off 101) he's not won though since 2015. May well have needed the race on his recent return but from 2lb out of the handicap holds limited appeal.

Form: 6-6U657

Forecasts

Petite Ganache (6/5), Aquarian (11/2), Eager To Know (6/1), Samtu (6/1), Maureen's Star (11/1), Louloumills (12/1), Roll Of Thunder (14/1), News For Pascal (16/1)

Most of these have question marks and doubts hanging over them and it may be best to focus on the two chasing debutantes. PETITE GANACHE is from a stable that have had a fine season and it may pay to forgive him his below-par effort last time and judge him on his Newcastle win. Aquarian is of much the same ilk with one decent hurdles win to his name before running below that level in subsequent starts but a try over fences may kick start him again. Samtu shouldn’t be written off despite a poor run last time if he is over his crashing Musselburgh fall; his debut win there if repeated would put him right in the mix here.