14:15 Carlisle

Monday 20 February 2023

All13:1513:4514:1514:4515:1515:5016:25

Campbell Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:15 | Winning time: 5m 24.36s

First Account^v¹⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: B S Hughes| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 115| D

17/2

Versatile performer who showed he retains plenty of ability back from a year off when third of 5 over 3m at Musselburgh 15 days ago. Claims if he can build on that with Brian Hughes back in the saddle now.

Form: 2122-P3

Eyre Square^p1⁵⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: J J Burke| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 115| D

4/1

Promising start to his chase career. Went a little in snatches when fourth in a Down Royal maiden 8 weeks ago and is now equipped with cheekpieces for this switch to handicap company. Likely improver for respected Irish yard.

Form: 25-4504

Tupelo Mississippi^p¹¹

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Henry Brooke| T: B Ellison| OR: 115| D

4/1

Dual bumper/maiden hurdle winner who was runner-up for the third time over fences when going down by ½ length at Doncaster (20.5f) 11 days ago. Likely to remain competitive from an unchanged mark.

Form: 2P6-232

Paddy The Horse⁴²

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Jonathon Bewley⁽³⁾| T: G Bewley| OR: 115| D

12/1

Won maiden and handicap hurdles at Hexham in the autumn but this point winner departed around halfway when switched to fences at Ayr last month.

Form: 22-311F

Thatsy³⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-11| J: Sean Quinlan| T: Lizzie Quinlan| OR: 112| D

18/1

Useful hurdler at his best but remains winless over fences after 13 attempts, including pulling up on last month's rather belated reappearance at Kelso. Can only watch after that.

Form: 47262-P

Allo Allo⁵⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: C Gethings| T: S Edmunds| OR: 109| D

6/1

Has won maiden/handicap hurdles at up to 23f at Fakenham this term. Point win at the start of his career suggests he should make a chaser. Considered.

Form: P2-5141

Tico Times^p¹³⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-5| J: Danny McMenamin| T: A Slack| OR: 106| C

33/1

Better than ever in the first half of this season, winning 3 times at up to 21f. Freshened up since a below-form fourth here in October (final start for Dianne Sayer).

Form: 312124

Velasco²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Sam Coltherd| T: S Corbett| OR: 105| D

11/1

Twice runner-up for Tom Lacey last season but his jumping became an increased issue and that problem has again been on show for this yard. Fared no better back hurdling last time. Easy to look elsewhere.

Form: 25-46P7

Uptown Harry^p⁸⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: Ross Chapman| T: Mrs J Walton| OR: 105

25/1

Gained chase breakthrough success at Perth in May 2021 but that remains his sole success from 13 appearances over fences. Looked rusty on his Newcastle reappearance in November and off another 3 months since. Cheekpieces back on.

Form: 58235-5

Well Above Par^t,v1³⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 10-11| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 98| CD

14/1

C&D winner but this season's efforts have been disappointing, finishing a distant fourth at Kelso last time. Needs a first-time visor (replacing regular cheekpieces) to have a positive effect.

Form: 647-6P4

I'm A Starman^b1⁴³

Age: 10| Weight: 10-7| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: M G Rimell| OR: 94

6/1

Runner-up over hurdles in first-time cheekpieces off a much higher mark on final start last season but things haven't gone to plan in 3 outings over fences/hurdles this term. Hopes are pinned on first-time blinkers sparking a revival.

Form: 862-4P8

Knocknamona⁴⁴

Age: 12| Weight: 10-6| J: C O'Farrell| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 93| CD

28/1

Won 2½m Newcastle handicap last month for the second year in succession. His mixed record in recent times suggests he's no certainty to back that up.

Form: 164-051

Non-Runners

Massini Man⁴⁸

Weight: 11-11| Age: 10

T: A M Thomson J: Ryan Mania

Forecasts

Tupelo Mississippi (4/1), Eyre Square (4/1), Massini Man (5/1), Allo Allo (6/1), I'm A Starman (6/1), First Account (17/2), Velasco (11/1), Paddy The Horse (12/1), Well Above Par (14/1), Thatsy (18/1), Uptown Harry (25/1), Knocknamona (28/1), Tico Times (33/1)

EYRE SQUARE appeals as one who could have more to offer over fences now switching to handicaps and is narrowly preferred to Massini Man, who has thrived since joining the Sandy Thomson yard. Tupelo Mississippi, runner-up off this mark at Doncaster recently, and Stuart Edmunds chase newcomer Allo Allo complete the shortlist.