15:15 Carlisle

Sunday 15 December 2024

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

Happy Christmas From Carlisle Racecourse Mares' Open NH Flat Race (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:15 | Winning time: 4m 22.89s

Border Queen¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Joe Williamson⁽³⁾| T: P A Kirby

150/1

Half-sister to 3 winners but didn't show much at Wetherby first time out. Hard to fancy.

Form: 9

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Crying Lightning²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: James Turner⁽⁵⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies

3/1

Dam unraced half-sister to useful hurdler/chaser (stayed 21f) Guitar Pete. Showed something to work on when ninth of 12 in listed contest at Cheltenham on debut and should step forward in these calmer waters.

Form: 9

Desirable Walk

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: B S Hughes| T: Micky Hammond

28/1

£20,000 3-y-o. Walk In The Park filly. Dam (c127/h120) 2m-2¾m hurdle/chase winner. Would enter the reckoning if the betting vibes are strong.

Form:

Gintime

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: Danny McMenamin| T: N G Richards

4/1

€9,000 3-y-o, Mount Nelson filly. Dam (h116), bumper/2m-23f hurdle winner, half-sister to bumper winner/prolific winning hurdler (stayed 21f) Airlie Beach. Makes plenty of appeal on paper and is worth taking a chance on.

Form:

High As Hope³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Theo Gillard| T: D McCain Jnr

33/1

Runner-up in a point but only seventh when 40/1 for a bumper here on Rules debut. Needs to do more.

Form: 27

Lady Fortune²⁰²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: David Bass| T: M Comley

22/1

£20,000 4-y-o, Soldier of Fortune filly. Half-sister to fair hurdler Innisfree Lass. Likely to come good further down the line.

Form: 1

Little Wren^h1

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: Sean Quinlan| T: Mrs M Rowley

10/1

Walk In The Park filly. Dam unraced half-sister to high-class hurdler (stayed 3m) Prince of Scars out of useful 2m/17f hurdle winner Spirit Leader. Wears hood. Worthy of interest on debut.

Form:

Madame Bluebelle^t²⁴¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Ryan Mania| T: A M ThomsonWS

15/2

Shaped like a stayer first time up when fourth of 8 in bumper at Ayr but not in the same form at Cheltenham next time. Others make more appeal.

Form: 40-

Oh Clare³⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill

2/1

Related to winners and started well when fourth here first time out. Should have learned from that and is open to improvement, so strong player.

Form: 4

Smile Back²¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: Finn Lambert⁽³⁾| T: R T Phillips

12/1

£30,000 4-y-o, Workforce filly. Sister to point/bumper winner The Gambler, and half-sister to 3 winners, including fair hurdler/chaser Shortcross Storm. Won sole start in Irish points (May 18). Notable Rules debutant.

Form: 1

Forecasts

Oh Clare (2/1), Crying Lightning (3/1), Gintime (4/1), Madame Bluebelle (15/2), Little Wren (10/1), Smile Back (12/1), Lady Fortune (22/1), Desirable Walk (28/1), High As Hope (33/1), Border Queen (150/1)

GINTIME is bred to go well in this sphere and, if sufficiently clued up, could be capable of getting the better of Oh Clare, who is the clear pick of those with experience. Crying Lightning should find this easier than her debut in a listed race, so she's also considered.