16:45 Carlisle

Sunday 26 March 2023

All13:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:4517:18

Go North Red Rum Series Final Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Off time: 16:45 | Winning time: 6m 47.10s

Creative Control⁴¹

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 115| BF| D

16/1

Dual hurdles winner last season and stepped up on previous chase form when scoring in ready fashion at Musselburgh (23.8f) in December. Runner-up all 3 subsequent starts (off this mark, latest in a match) and fancied to be in the mix once again.

Form: 551222

Court At Slip^b¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: Mr William Easterby⁽⁵⁾| T: T D Easterby| OR: 112| D

15/2

Hurdles winner who has improved for switch to chasing, taking his record in this sphere to 3 wins from just 5 starts when beating Onestepatatime by a neck Sedgefield (26.9f, heavy) 12 days ago. Up a further 5 lb and should remain competitive.

Form: 314611

Hold The Note^v¹²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-6| J: Danny McMenamin| T: Ewan Whillans| OR: 107

16/1

Opened chase account with headgear left off at Kelso (23.4f) in December but that was a standout effort for current connections and he increasingly looks one to avoid.

Form: P15F54

Return Fire^t³⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: P W Wadge⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 106| BF| D

15/2

Back-to-back winner at Hexham and Newcastle in November. Respectable efforts when in frame on 3 subsequent starts and he probably remains a shade too high in the weights still.

Form: 311442

Bretney^b⁴⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: G Sheehan| T: H D Daly| OR: 105| D

10/1

Showed benefit of reappearance when scoring at Hereford in November and took his form up a notch tackling a marathon trip for the first time/sporting first-time blinkers when winning at Bangor (29.6f, good to soft) just over 6 weeks ago. Remains to be seen if the headgear works again.

Form: 4134P1

Westy Fox¹²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: C O'Farrell| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 103| D

10/1

Winning hurdler in Ireland and readily surpassed previous chasing exploits when third at Catterick (25.2f) on first start for this yard over Christmas. Below that level at Sedgefield earlier this month but this 9-y-o remains low-mileage in this sphere at least.

Form: 08B-733

Duke Of Deception^p³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Henry Brooke| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 102| D

3/1

Has improved over fences since fitted with cheekpieces, getting off the mark in commanding fashion at Musselburgh (23.8f, soft) 5 weeks ago. Heading the right way and has a big chance of doubling his tally from just a 2 lb higher mark.

Form: 5362F1

Onestepatatime^p¹²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J S Wainwright| OR: 99| BF| D

17/2

Off the mark under Rules when comfortably scoring at Sedgefield in January and went in again back there later that month. Just failed to complete the hat-trick when going down by a neck to Court At Slip recently but is 4 lb higher here so others look stronger.

Form: F35112

Skyhill^t⁵⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 10-6| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: Mrs A C Hamilton| OR: 93| CD

14/1

Took advantage of a much-reduced mark to score at Sedgefield in December before following up at Catterick (25.2f, soft) on New Year's Day. Shaped as if still in decent heart for a long way before fading in hat-trick bid but this significantly tougher.

Form: P-P3114

Elleon^p,t⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: Jonathan England| T: S England| OR: 85| BF

7/2

Yet to win over fences but has finished runner-up on five of his 7 starts for his current yard, not looking the most straightforward off the bridle at Doncaster (24f, good to soft) 9 days ago. Cheekpieces back on but career best needed from 4 lb out of weights.

Form: 252222

Forecasts

Duke Of Deception (3/1), Elleon (7/2), Return Fire (15/2), Court At Slip (15/2), Onestepatatime (17/2), Bretney (10/1), Westy Fox (10/1), Skyhill (14/1), Hold The Note (16/1), Creative Control (16/1)

DUKE OF DECEPTION found some improvement to get off the mark in impressive fashion at Musselburgh 5 weeks ago and, raised just 2 lb for that success, he's fancied to follow up. Court At Slip took his record in this sphere to 3 wins from just 5 starts recently so he could well emerge as the main danger, while Creative Control and Bretney can fight out minor honours.