14:45 Carlisle

Thursday 13 October 2022

All13:0013:3514:1014:4515:2015:5516:30

Varlien Vyner-Brooks Memorial Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:50 | Winning time: 6m 24.20s

Dallas Des Pictons^p²²

Age: 9| Weight: 12-2| J: Henry Brooke| T: Mrs Dianne Sayer| OR: 137| D

5/1

Useful hurdler/chaser who ended long losing run at Cork on final start for Gordon Elliott in August. Easy to back ahead of finishing down the field on stable debut last time. Cheekpieces reapplied back over fences.

Form: 004-216

Small Present¹⁸³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 129| D

7/2

Gained a deserved success in handicap hurdle at Haydock (24.3f) in January before going the wrong way in 3 subsequent starts. Well held on sole outing over fences but should have a future in this sphere. Off 6 months.

Form: 63165P-

Stylish Moment^t³³⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-13| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 120

12/1

Fairly useful hurdler/chaser at best for Eoin Doyle. Shaped well on stable debut when runner-up in handicap hurdle at Kelso (25.8f) in October 2021, but fell here on his next outing. Back over fences after 11 months off.

Form: 62702F-

Touch Kick⁴⁵

Age: 11| Weight: 10-10| J: J Kington| T: S G West| OR: 117| DWS

40/1

Useful chaser at best for Paul Nicholls but struggled for new yard in 2020/21. Offered little after 18 months off when well held at Cartmel in August. Has had a wind op since. Best watched.

Form: 4F784/5

Wye Aye^h²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: Ross Chapman| T: P A Kirby| OR: 117| D

5/1

Recorded a fourth win over fences in handicap at Perth (23.8f) in September last year. Possibly needed the outing after 11 months off when second of 4 at the same course 3 weeks ago. Could get involved with that run behind him.

Form: 1/071U-2

Mance Rayder^b³⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 10-4| J: B S Hughes| T: H Hogarth| OR: 111| C| D

9/1

Successful in handicap chase at Kelso (28.9f) on first start last season but ended the campaign with a pair of below-par efforts. Well held on return from 8 months off at Uttoxeter, though is now 6 lb below his last winning mark.

Form: 4U266-5

Court Dreaming^p¹²⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 10-2| J: Danny McMenamin| T: N G Richards| OR: 108| CD

15/8

C&D winner who also won over hurdles here in March. Good run of form halted at Hexham in June, but could fare better back over fences returned to this course.

Form: 4812-33

Non-Runners

Step Back¹⁷³

Weight: 11-7| Age: 12

T: M Bradstock J: Non Runner

The Ferry Master¹⁹⁴

Weight: 11-6| Age: 9

T: A M Thomson J: C O'Farrell

Forecasts

Court Dreaming (15/8), The Ferry Master (2/1), Step Back (10/3), Small Present (7/2), Dallas Des Pictons (5/1), Wye Aye (5/1), Mance Rayder (9/1), Stylish Moment (12/1), Touch Kick (40/1)

THE FERRY MASTER looked one to follow after shaping very well when fourth in the Scottish Grand National in 2021, but he didn't manage to go on as hoped last season. However, given the promise that he showed as a novice, the 9-y-o could be worth another chance to get back on track after 6 months off. C&D winner Court Dreaming is feared most, ahead of Wye Aye.