11:50 Carlisle

Sunday 15 December 2019

All11:5012:2012:5013:2013:5514:2515:0015:30

Racing TV Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 11:50 | Winning time: 4m 22.70s

Big Bad Bear²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: B S Hughes| T: N G Richards| OR: 130

1/4

Has looked useful over hurdles so far, getting off the mark at Wetherby last time. Stays 2m4f and acts on soft ground. Should again go very well under a penalty.

Form: 2231-31

Mister Manduro¹⁸³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Danny McMenamin⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs A Hamilton

16/1

Won a Perth maiden hurdle (2m, good) in May, when previously with this trainer. Well held in just one Flat start since (with Brian Ellison), and will need improvement to defy his penalty back in this sphere.

Form: U1

Multellie¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: T D Easterby| OR: 124| CD

5/1

Multiple winner on the Flat and caught the eye with a comfortable C&D success back over hurdles in October. Reported by jockey that he was never travelling at Wetherby last time, so if you can forgive him that, you can't rule him out.

Form: 8/17

Bear That N Mind¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Danny Cook| T: J Parkinson & S Smith

50/1

Third in an Irish point in 2018, but 100-1 and beaten a long way on rules debut at Southwell recently. Can only take a watching brief this time.

Form: UF/3-7

Itsnotyouitsme^t²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Ross Chapman| T: M A Barnes| OR: 110

7/1

Second in two Hexham novices' hurdles so far (both on heavy) and perhaps didn't get home over 2m4f last time. Return to shorter could therefore suit. Not ruled out.

Form: 22

Off The Beat⁵⁷⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Ryan Mania| T: A M Thomson

100/1

Doesn't appear to have easy to get him to the racecourse, having run just twice in bumpers in 2017 and 2018 when with John Mackie. Has since changed hands, but probably one to watch on his hurdles/stable debut.

Form: 8/7-

Operation Overlord

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell

28/1

€25,000 foal, £70,000 3yo. Half-brother to 2m4f-2m6f hurdle winner, as well as three point winners. Stable a little quiet and not normally associated with first-time winners, but one to note in the market.

Form:

Raymond¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Craig Nichol| T: K Dalgleish

25/1

Second in a Sedgefield bumper (good) on his second start in May. Couldn't build on that on his return from a break back there recently, but could strip fitter for that run and one to note in the market on his hurdles debut.

Form: 4-25

Saint Jude²⁹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Billy Garritty⁽⁵⁾| T: A Wilson

150/1

20-1 and never got involved on his debut for Oliver Sherwood at Fontwell in February. Has since changed hands for £6,000 and is another to watch on his hurdles debut.

Form: 0-

Zealous⁵¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Callum Bewley| T: A C Whillans| C

66/1

Has won here on the Flat (1m1f, good to soft). Will need to improve on his abilities in that code to have a chance on his hurdles debut.

Form:

Red Reminder⁴²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-5| J: Thomas Dowson| T: C Grant

80/1

Soft ground bumper third, but went off at 100-1 on her hurdles debut here last month, and was pulled up before the second after her saddle slipped. Can only watch.

Form: 8634-P

Ulterior Motives²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-5| J: R D Day| T: M Todhunter

80/1

Off the mark at the eighth attempt in Irish points last month. That is not a great recommendation for siding with her on her rules debut, especially over this trip. Others preferred.

Form: 2573-P1

Forecasts

Big Bad Bear (1/4), Multellie (5/1), Itsnotyouitsme (7/1), Mister Manduro (16/1), Raymond (25/1), Operation Overlord (28/1), Bear That N Mind (50/1), Zealous (66/1), Red Reminder (80/1), Ulterior Motives (80/1), Off The Beat (100/1), Saint Jude (150/1)

This looks to be a good opportunity for BIG BAD BEAR to add to his Wetherby success. Although he has a penalty, he looks to have the scope for improvement, and this is not a deep race. If you can forgive Multellie his latest effort, he could be the one to give the selection most to do, while Mister Manduro is respected and Itsnotyouitsme could also battle for minor honours again.