15:05 Carlisle

Sunday 5 November 2023

All12:4513:2013:5514:3015:0515:4016:15

Castletown Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:05 | Winning time: 5m 21.4s

Cheddleton³¹³

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J Candlish| OR: 140| BF| C

4/1

Smart chaser and his third on last season's reappearance shows he's still capable over hurdles too. Been off for 10 months.

Form: 2243/32-

Foster'sisland²²⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: Emma Smith-Chaston⁽³⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 129| C| D

14/1

Likeable type who found a bit more improvement to land a Bangor handicap when last seen 7 months ago. Might strip fitter for this return, however.

Form: 824521-

Baron De Midleton^b¹⁹⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-3| J: Lewis Dobb⁽⁷⁾| T: B Ellison| OR: 129| C| D

25/1

Three small-field chase wins in blinkers last season. Ran poorly at Ayr final start. Well held over hurdles on last season's reappearance. Watching brief advised on return.

Form: 12211P-

Carcaci Castle^t²⁴⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Ryan Mania| T: A M Thomson| OR: 127

4/1

Bumper winner in Ireland who looked a useful prospect when landing 2m maiden/novice hurdles at Kelso last December for Sandy Thomson. Pulled up in a Grade 2 novice back there in March but still appeals as one who can go on to better things in handicaps. The yard won this in 2021.

Form: 461/11P-

Fingal's Hill¹⁸³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: Craig Nichol| T: P Atkinson| OR: 123

9/1

Did well to make up ground from off the pace in a falsely-run race when completing a handicap hat-trick at Hexham when last seen in May and a 3 lb rise is unlikely to prevent another bold bid if he's ready to roll after 6 months off.

Form: 21/811-1

Theme Tune^p²²⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-10| J: Bruce Lynn⁽³⁾| T: N W Alexander| OR: 122| C

6/1

Course novice winner for Jonjo O'Neill who, despite indifferent jumping, won a pair of 3m handicap hurdles for this yard last winter. Respectable fifth at Kelso when last seen in March. Down in trip for reappearance.,

Form: 3/74115-

Shallow River¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-7| J: Bradley Harris⁽⁵⁾| T: M F Harris| OR: 119| BF

5/2

Fairly useful 2m winner for Fergal O'Brien who arrives on the back of a pair of good runner-up efforts over 21f for his new yard last month. Likely to be in the mix again.

Form: 622422

Polisud²⁹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: Joshua Thompson⁽¹⁰⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 110

40/1

Fairly useful chase/hurdle winner at best in France but pulled up on his yard debut at Wetherby in January and not seen since. Can only be watched.

Form: 34/956P-

The King Of May¹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 10-2| J: Dylan Johnston⁽⁷⁾| T: B Ellison| OR: 109| C| D

17/2

Better known as a fairly useful chaser but he showed he can still be competitive back hurdling when 7 lengths fourth of 10 on his Sedgefield reappearance 14 days ago. Is 5 lb out of the handicap here, though.

Form: 56277-4

Non-Runners

Albert's Back¹

Weight: 11-5| Age: 9

T: M & D Easterby J: B S Hughes

Forecasts

Shallow River (5/2), Cheddleton (4/1), Carcaci Castle (4/1), Albert's Back (11/2), Theme Tune (6/1), The King Of May (17/2), Fingal's Hill (9/1), Foster'sisland (14/1), Baron De Midleton (25/1), Polisud (40/1)

Although CARCACI CASTLE failed to make an impact in a Grade 2 novice when last seen in March he still has the profile of one who can go on to better things in handicaps this term and he gets the nod for Sandy Thomson and Ryan Mania. Fingal's Hill will pose a threat if resuming in the same form as when completing a hat-trick in the spring. Shallow River has made a solid start for his new trainer Milton Harris and should also be on the premises.