CARLISLE
Race 2 No2 AUCUNRISQUE
Trainer: Chris Gordon – Jockey: Rex Dingle
The featured graduation chase is a tough one to call, and though respect is paid to impressive Ayr scorer Sail Away the marginal vote goes to AUCUNRISQUE who was a very good servant over both hurdles and fences to his connections last season. His triumphs included the Betfair Hurdle, while he finished second in a Graded chase at Kempton and probably has a lot more to offer over fences.
Race 4 No1 CREBILLY (Nap)
Trainer: Jonjo O’Neill – Jockey: Jonjo O’Neill Jr
CREBILLY is a horse that should have a bright future over fences. He kept good company over hurdles last season, winning twice, and has jumped well in preparation for chasing at Jackdaw’s Castle. He should take the spoils on the way to better things.
KEMPTON PARK
Race 1 No10 QUEENS GAMBLE ( Nap)
Trainer: Harry Derham – Jockey: Jonathan Burke
Rookie trainer Derham has inherited a budding star from his new assistant Oliver Sherwood in QUEENS GAMBLE. The Getaway mare retained her novice status despite scoring over hurdles in May, and in receipt of 7lb should have too many guns for the penalised Classic King.
Race 3 No1 EL RIO
Trainer: Kim Bailey – Jockey: David Bass
EL RIO looked very useful in winning two of his three starts last season, and would have been unbeaten but for falling on his jumps debut at Chepstow. Very well regarded by his trainer, whose horses are running well, he can parry the attentions of course winner East India Express.
Race 5 No3 COBBLERS DREAM
Trainer: Ben Case – Jockey: Jonathan Burke
COBBLERS DREAM is carded to go off as one of the outsiders in this handicap hurdle but can outrun those odds. His trainer is using this as a stepping stone to a return to fences, but the seven-year-old is very useful over hurdles in his own right, and ready for this seasonal return.
WOLVERHAMPTON
Race 2 No7 RUNNING STAR (Nap)
Trainer: Hugo Palmer – Jockey: David Probert
Granted his past experience of this track, RUNNING STAR can thwart a couple of previous winners in this interesting heat. The Zoustar colt showed his appreciation for a step up in trip to be denied by the narrowest margin here last month, but shouldn’t mind dropping back a tad on the distance ladder here.
Race 8 No11 KALAMA SUNRISE (Each Way)
Trainer: Jack Channon – Jockey: Rose Dawes
He top and bottom horses can fight out the finish of this low-grade handicap, with KALAMA SUNRISE preferred to hat-trick seeker Intoxicata. The selection claimed minor cheques at Musselburgh and Leicester and now makes her debut on Tapeta. Though showing little on two previous runs on Polytrack, they happened at the start of the year and she’s a more rounded individual now.
Place Accumulator Perm (Races 3-9)
5, 6 x 2, 5 x 5, 1, 2 x 4, 1, 12 x 4, 7 x 11, 1 x 8, 5
R288