15:40 Carlisle

Monday 22 May 2023

All14:0014:3515:1015:4016:1016:4017:15

Thursby Handicap

Off time: 15:40 | Winning time: 1m 38.87s

(1)

What's The Story^p⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 9-9| J: Connor Beasley| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 85| D

10/11

Having dropped in the weights, produced best effort of the year when second of 13 in handicap at Hamilton (8.3f, good) 8 days ago. Could be ready to return to winning ways.

Form: 2552-52

(4)

Alazwar^p²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: A Mullen| T: A Watson| OR: 83| D

13/2

Possibly needed the run after 5 months off when fifth of 7 in handicap at Bath (1m, soft) 21 days ago. Can fare better with his reappearance behind him.

Form: 17007-5

(6)

Sucellus^t²²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 9-6| J: Alistair Rawlinson| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 82| D

11/1

Best effort last season when winning 12-runner handicap at Wolverhampton (9.5f, 18/1) in October, better placed than most. Needs to pick up where he left off as he makes his reappearance.

Form: 199361-

(3)

Detective^p⁴¹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-2| J: P Mulrennan| T: Mrs Dianne Sayer| OR: 78| CD

6/1

Five-time course winner, including over this distance. Failed to stay significantly longer trip when last of 8 in handicap (66/1) at Pontefract (18f, heavy) 41 days ago. Capable of getting involved with cheekpieces back on.

Form: 15050-8

(5)

Gobi Sunset⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 8-13| J: J Fanning| T: C Johnston| OR: 75| BF

14/1

Twenty-two runs since last win in 2021. 3/1, again below form when last of 7 in handicap at Musselburgh (7.2f, good) 7 days ago.

Form: 530767

(2)

Strongbowe^p⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 8-12| J: Sean Kirrane⁽³⁾| T: T D Easterby| OR: 74| CD

5/1

C&D winner. 15/2, followed a good run with a below-par one when last of 6 in handicap at Nottingham (8.3f, heavy) 9 days ago. Others more persuasive.

Form: 229-726

Non-Runners

(7)

Gainsbourg²⁸

Weight: 8-9| Age: 5

T: D Bourke J: Shane Gray

Forecasts

What's The Story (10/11), Strongbowe (5/1), Detective (6/1), Alazwar (13/2), Sucellus (11/1), Gobi Sunset (14/1), Gainsbourg (20/1)

Having dropped to a handy mark, WHAT'S THE STORY ran well back on turf after 10 weeks off when third at Hamilton 8 days ago and he can build on that and return to winning ways. Five-time course winner Detective could be the biggest threat back down in trip, while Alazwar is the pick of the remainder with his reappearance run behind him.