Carlisle – Monday 28th February

A mixed day at Naas yesterday and today ends the month of February, which has been a fairly mixed bag of results. In truth, I have struggled to find much consistency in selections this month with the racing being a bit hit and miss, and I will be looking to finish the month on a high today before attacking into March tomorrow, and the countdown to Cheltenham. The racing today comes from Carlisle, and there are a few horses that may have a chance. 

Starting with the opening race of the card, which is the handicap hurdle over 2m3f at 1.00. 12 runners go to post in this competitive handicap, and I am going to be siding with the consistent Made for You in this race, who is getting back in partnership with regular rider, Daire Davis. He takes a valuable ten pounds off his back, which may well result in getting this horse to get his head in front having been second on his last two starts behind unexposed rivals. He is back up to the interim trip of 2m4f today as well, which should be well within his compass, given his overall record. Neither should a mark of 118 be out of his grasp either and although coming into this race as top weight, he could have a class edge over some of his rivals. At a price of 7/1 with William Hill, who are offering 4 places, he should be backed each way. 

The 3.20 race is also an intriguing contest for each way player such as myself as this is a stamina grueling 3m2f handicap chase. Very few of these look like they are too far ahead of their marks, and despite plenty of them arriving in decent form – it’s hard to pinpoint exactly where to go with this race. I have landed on Dalkingstown for the Bowen yard, with James taking the ride on this strong stayer. Having been mixed around at different trips, it seemed the step up to 3m5f worked the oracle when winning convincely at Sedgefield two starts ago, but he was perhaps a little bit tame when struggling third at a short price at that venue. He still remains in good form however and he is feasibly handicapped to run well again, so don’t rule out a big showing. At a price of 17/2 with SkyBet, who are offering 4 places – he should be backed each way. 

The final race on the card is the 4.30 novices handicap chase over 2m4f and this race is for horses rated 0-120. There are just the seven runners in this contest, but both Ladbrokes and Coral are generously giving out three places for this race – which must be taken advantage of. With this in mind, I am going to be siding with Pitempton Power – who if looking past his fall most recently, has some very progressive form coming into this race. That fall last time out was a heavy one, but if recovering in one piece for this race, he should take high rank. He won at this track earlier in the season before backing it up with a win at Musselburgh, and he seems both trip and ground versatile. Off a mark of 112, he should have a good chance. At a price of 11/2 with Ladbrokes, who are paying that third place, he should be backed each way.