16:15 Carlisle

Saturday 8 April 2023

All13:5514:3015:0515:4016:1516:5017:25

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Off time: 16:15 | Winning time: 6m 20.10s

Captain Zebo²⁰

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr John Dixon⁽⁷⁾| T: J E Dixon| OR: 119| CD

11/2

Four of his 5 hurdles wins have been gained here, the latest a competitive C&D handicap off a significantly higher mark than this back in December 2020. Hasn't really threatened since but dangerous to discount now pitched into 0-120 company and moving back up in trip.

Form: 746563

Yellowstone Park²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: B S Hughes| T: A M Hales| OR: 113

15/2

Improved to get off the mark on handicap debut at Leicester (20.5f, soft) in December. Poor next time but back on track when second upped to 23f at Market Rasen last month and merits respect with Brian Hughes booked.

Form: 4-751P2

Curley Finger^p,t¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Nathan Moscrop| T: R Menzies| OR: 112

9/2

Hexham novice winner last spring and stepped up on previous efforts in handicap company when scoring over 23.8f at Musselburgh (good to soft), the switch to front-running tactics and first-time cheekpieces seemingly the combined catalyst for improvement. More needed here following a 5 lb rise.

Form: 134651

Court Dreaming^p¹⁷⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 11-7| J: Danny McMenamin| T: N G Richards| OR: 112| CD

14/1

Successful over C&D last March and also a dual chase winner at this course, including on his latest start in October. On a feasible mark back hurdling but he'll need to pull out something extra in order to take this.

Form: 812-331

Aazza⁵¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Dylan Johnston⁽⁷⁾| T: R Dobbin| OR: 103

13/2

Bolted up in a 3m conditional jockeys' event at Doncaster in January and while she was held off this 13 lb higher mark when fourth at Newcastle next time, it was probably the fast ground rather than the hike in the weights that ultimately made the difference. Possibilities back on slow ground here.

Form: 3U4214

Haribo Collonges^t1¹⁰³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: Alan Doyle⁽⁵⁾| T: P Neville| OR: 102

11/1

No real impact in maiden hurdles (including in Ireland) but back on track making his handicap debut when third at Market Rasen (20.6f, good to soft) on Boxing Day. Shapes as though this further step up in trip and one to consider on debut for new yard with a tongue strap enlisted.

Form: 636-553

Shoeshine Boy¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: Craig Nichol| T: D W Whillans| OR: 100| BF

9/2

Ended last season by gaining a deserved breakthrough success over a similar trip at Ayr. Mixed bag so far this season, though, and needs to bounce back following a low-key display in the Musselburgh handicap won by Curley Finger.

Form: 032U50

Fortcanyon^t¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-3| J: Lewis Stones⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss S E Forster| OR: 94

7/2

Off the mark at Newcastle in January and didn't do a great deal wrong when fourth at Kelso next time. However, he produced a laboured effort behind Curley Finger at Musselburgh recently and is opposable on the back of that.

Form: 77P149

Forecasts

Fortcanyon (7/2), Shoeshine Boy (9/2), Curley Finger (9/2), Captain Zebo (11/2), Aazza (13/2), Yellowstone Park (15/2), Haribo Collonges (11/1), Court Dreaming (14/1)

HARIBO COLLONGES took a step forward when third upped to 20.6f on his latest start at Market Rasen and, with the potential to do better still now faced with an even stiffer test, he is taken to make a winning start for the Patrick Neville yard. Cases can also be made for the majority of his rivals, not least the 11-y-o Captain Zebo, who has been given a real chance by the handicapper, while Aazza and Yellowstone Park are others with decent claims.