16:05 Carlisle

Thursday 24 October 2019

All13:5014:2515:0015:3016:0516:3517:10

Barry Murtagh Racing Handicap Chase

Off time: 16:05 | Winning time: 5m 9.30s

Duke Debarry¹⁹⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: B S Hughes| T: B Ellison| OR: 120| C

6/1

Disappointed on his last two chase starts for his former yard having made a wining start to his chasing career off the back of a wind op last January. Joined a yard in cracking form over jumps; may be best caught fresh off a reduced mark.

Form: 1/715PP-

Air De Rock¹⁵⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 120| D

5/1

Has a patchy completion record over fences (unseated rider two most recent starts); did win over fences last February off an 11lb lower mark. Ought to be capable off this mark if holding things together; yard just getting started, good record here.

Form: 2213U-U

Sebastian Beach^b,t³⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr Jason Dixon⁽⁷⁾| T: B Pauling| OR: 120

7/2

Good record over fences (2-4) taking his most recent start over fences at Kelso benefitting from a change of headgear (combination retained here). Up 9lb for that win so will require another career-best; still unexposed over fences; leading player.

Form: 4/25331

Pookie Pekan²¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Sam Coltherd⁽³⁾| T: W Coltherd| OR: 116| CD

7/2

Dual winner over fences last year he cashed in on some respite from the handicapper to score last March over C&D keeping the jumping errors to a minimum this time. Could well need this first start of the season off an increased mark.

Form: 225741-

Sandhurst Lad^p¹⁹¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: Mrs A C Hamilton| OR: 116

25/1

First start for this yard having been with Warren Greatrex, cost £20,000 in May. Showed some decent form in his first season over fences, best effort when successful over 3m1f at Wincanton off 6lb lower; trip looks on the sharp side first time out.

Form: 443132-

King Golan^b²⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: Alison Clarke⁽⁷⁾| T: Kenny Johnson| OR: 113

16/1

Returned to form with back-to-back wins over 3m in Market Rasen and Hexham in August/September; failed last time out having done too much off an increased mark. Mark looks stiff enough now even if given a better ride; looks vulnerable.

Form: 333116

Ryalex^t1²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: S Mulqueen⁽³⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 113| CD

11/2

May well have needed the run on his return at Perth last month over this trip in testing conditions but better could have been expected. Consistent sort only win came over C&D but finds winning hard; appears in the handicappers grasp.

Form: 3F4F2-3

Old Salt^p,t²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Henry Brooke| T: Stef Keniry| OR: 110| D

9/1

Capable over fences (three-time winner last year) although his form has a rather uneven feel to it and he can on occasions look a rather hard ride. Unseated over hurdles last time; track/ground fine, could well be a contender if he's on a going day.

Form: 41473U

Knocknamona²⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: Alain Cawley| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 108| CD

28/1

Failed to fire since his C&D win in February off a 5lb lower mark although the ground may have been quicker than his preferred soft surface. Showed very little off a five month break last time; stable not quite firing at the current time.

Form: 415F6-7

Forecasts

Pookie Pekan (7/2), Sebastian Beach (7/2), Air De Rock (5/1), Ryalex (11/2), Duke Debarry (6/1), Old Salt (9/1), King Golan (16/1), Sandhurst Lad (25/1), Knocknamona (28/1)

The suspicion is that a few of these returning from breaks like Pookie Pekan and Sandhurst Lad will need this especially the latter over a trip that looks too short for this stamina laden type. With the Ellison team in fine form over jumps (11-20, since the start of September) their debutant Duke Debarry must be of interest especially off a reduced mark. Air De Rock has been slightly unfortunate over fences so far but his yard have a good record here and any market positivity should be noted. SEBASTIAN BEACH is up 9lb for winning last time but he remains unexposed over fences (this will be just his fifth start in this sphere) and he’s taken to build on that Kelso victory.