16:30 Carlisle

Wednesday 8 February 2017

All13:5014:2014:5015:2015:5516:30

Carlisle Interactive Handicap Chase

Off time: 16:30 | Winning time: 7m 9.1s

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Selected odds by:

Alfie Spinner^p,t²⁰

Age: 12| Weight: 11-12| J: J E Moore| T: Kerry Lee| OR: 135

9/2

Rejuvenated by the switch in yards and application of cheekpieces and a tongue tie when successful the last twice. Latest success has been boosted by the runner-ups subsequent success at Taunton and this dour stayer should have ground conditions to suit and he still holds big race entries at Haydock and in the Grand National later this season.

Form: 476/481-

Chase The Spud³⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 132

5/1

Runner-up at Haydock on his penultimate start but well held off a 3lb higher mark when running at Cheltenham last month. Last chase victory came off a 12lb lower mark but he has beaten a useful rival in a conditions event since and interesting to see what tactics are employed here given he was ridden with more restraint than usual at Haydock.

Form: 2P13-72

Join The Clan^p¹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Aidan Coleman| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 130

12/1

Well held second on soft ground at Chepstow latest, dropped 2lb for that run and placed off a 6lb higher mark over hurdles in the last 12 months and interesting to see how he fares in this.

Form: 0299F1-

Blakemount²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-6| J: Danny Cook| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 129

13/2

Winner of a novice chase here over 2m4f in march last year, well held over shorter trips the last twice. Steps up markedly in trip here but should appreciate the ground conditions and stable have a 23% strike rate of late.

Form: 3351-25

Russe Blanc^b²⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 11-6| J: B S Hughes| T: Kerry Lee| OR: 129

9/1

Winner of a valuable contest at Warwick off 2lb lower mark in january 2016 but no form since including in the same contest when ridden by good amateur jockey last time out. Top jockey booked here and blinkers (retained) have made little difference to performance the last twice.

Form: 251UP-P

Hester Flemen²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: Craig Nichol| T: N G Richards| OR: 128

7/1

Lightly raced for one her age but unbeaten in three rules outings prior to finishing a well beaten fifth at Market Rasen on her return from a 13 month absence and on debut for this yard three weeks ago. Interesting to see how she fares on handicap debut.

Form: 2111/1-5

Rigadin De Beauchene^b²⁵

Age: 12| Weight: 11-4| J: R T Dunne| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 127

10/1

Four time winner but has been out of sorts in recent outings. Well held in a valuable event at Warwick last month but now racing off his last winning mark which came at Haydock in december 2015. Interesting if returning to form here.

Form: FP-4686

Bigirononhiship¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: W T Kennedy| T: R Dobbin| OR: 124

7/1

Refused to race in a first time tongue tie (left off here) last time out. Had some promising placed form prior to that and this step up in trip looks likely to suit him.

Form: U1123-2

Cyclop^p,t²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: G Sheehan| T: David Dennis| OR: 122

7/1

Still travelling well when falling in the race won by Alfie Spinner at Wincanton last time out. Has been placed in competitive events here and at Fontwell prior to that but it's been 14 months since his last success and he's yet to score in this grade.

Form: P2-533F

Swing Hard¹⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 10-0| J: D R Fox| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 107

28/1

Registered a double here over 2m4f in early 2016 but disappointing in the main since including at Wetherby last time out. Yet to prove he stays this far and racing from 2lb out of the handicap another negative.

Form: 31133-P

Forecasts

Alfie Spinner (9/2), Chase The Spud (5/1), Blakemount (13/2), Bigirononhiship (7/1), Cyclop (7/1), Hester Flemen (7/1), Russe Blanc (9/1), Rigadin De Beauchene (10/1), Join The Clan (12/1), Swing Hard (28/1)

ALFIE SPINNER can follow up his seasonal debut success at Wincanton last month by taking this staying chase. The veteran appears to have been revitalised by his change in trainer and has been placed off a 5lb higher mark in his youth. Cyclop was still travelling well when falling four from home on that occasion and having placed in competitive events here (races off a 1lb lower mark today) and at Fontwell in his two previous starts he can claim second while Chase The Spud can put a poor run behind him at Cheltenham last month by taking third. 1. Alfie Spinner 2. Cyclop 3. Chase The Spud