14:07 Carlisle

Sunday 15 December 2024

All11:5512:2513:0013:3214:0714:4215:15

Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:07 | Winning time: 6m 47.98s

Gwennie May Boy²²

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: C J Todd| T: D Skelton| OR: 137| D

15/2

Made it 3-3 for Dan Skelton with a useful performance to land a competitive staying handicap at the Aintree Grand National meeting in April, earning a further 11 lb rise for that victory, Fell at 4th flight on comeback run. Dangerous to dismiss but could be one for bigger targets down the line.

Form: 1P111-F

D Art D Art²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Donagh Meyler| T: T Cooper| OR: 131

9/4

Career best when winning 11-runner handicap hurdle at Punchestown (20f, good, 6/1) in October. Far from disgraced when third of 23 in a handicap hurdle (10/1) at Navan (22.4f, good to soft) 28 days ago, shaping as though this step up in trip would suit. Claims here.

Form: 2400-13

Shallow River^p⁴⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: S Bowen| T: O Murphy| OR: 127

10/1

Gained reward for a string of good efforts in handicap hurdles when staying on to lead close home at Exeter (23.1f) in February and not disgraced in deeper contest at Cheltenham 2 months later. Shaped as if amiss on first start for current yard at Newton Abbot on reappearance. Needs to bounce back.

Form: 42317-8

Gold In The Rivers³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Jack Tudor| T: D Pipe| OR: 125

10/1

Maiden hurdle winner in Ireland and ran well at Down Royal when last seen in May. Dropped back to the minimum trip starting out for new yard (£40,000 buy from Gordon Elliott) and could never land a blow. This test should be more to his liking and better expected.

Form: 5421-24

Feivel^b²⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: Charlie Hammond| T: S Edmunds| OR: 123

14/1

Twice a winner over hurdles last season but pulled up on final start. Ran a stormer in the Southern National but jumped left throughout. He will enjoy this stamina test and is likely to make a bold bid from the front if jumping straighter.

Form: 2121P-2

Icare Allen^t²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 122

18/5

Shaped better than bare result when 7th of 11 at Uttoxeter (20f) at the beginning of November. Took advantage of falling handicap mark when returning to that venue (upped in trip to 3m), winning with something in hand when well-backed 3 weeks ago. Still well handicapped on the best of his form.

Form: 569871

Fonzerelli²⁴⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: Nathan Moscrop| T: R Menzies| OR: 122

66/1

Listed winner over hurdles back in 2022 but it was far from happy days on her return to the track off a 2-year absence, sent off at 100/1, finishing well beat at Ayr in April. A concern that she hasn't been seen since and question marks as to whether she is the force of old.

Form: 23112/8-

Scarlet O'Tara²²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: Luke Scott⁽⁵⁾| T: Dr R Newland & J Insole| OR: 119

11/2

Defied a penalty at the second time of asking in 5-runner novice hurdle at Perth (20.2f, soft) at Perth in September, winning readily. Relished the step up in trip on handicap debut, scoring decisvely at Ascot (23.5f) last month. Progressive sort and should be in the mix here.

Form: 73-1211

Shoeshine Boy^t⁴³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: Murray Dodd⁽⁷⁾| T: D W Whillans| OR: 109| BF| CD

8/1

Shaded a tight finish on his 23f Hexham reappearance in October. He had hard race that day and possible paid the price for those exertions at Ayr 43 days ago (finished 3rd of 6 but well beaten). Freshened up and should enjoy this greater stamina test back on more testing ground.

Form: 1155-13

Non-Runners

Wakool⁴³

Weight: 11-6| Age: 8

T: N W Alexander J: Non Runner

Forecasts

D Art D Art (9/4), Icare Allen (18/5), Scarlet O'Tara (11/2), Gwennie May Boy (15/2), Shoeshine Boy (8/1), Shallow River (10/1), Gold In The Rivers (10/1), Feivel (14/1), Wakool (20/1), Fonzerelli (66/1)

ICARE ALLEN is still well-handicapped on the best of his form and he is taken to follow up his victory at Uttoxeter last month. Interesting Irish challenger D Art D Art and Gwennie May Boy can give the selection most to think about, while the progressive Scarlet O'Tara is also respected.