Evening all,

A new month and the weather is starting to be more in tune with the season. The rain final arrived in decent amounts last week. Hopefully it will continue this week as both Exeter & Wincanton have big meetings later in the week and the latter in particular needs the wet stuff.

There was some good action at Carlisle on Sunday. The highlight of the Carlisle card was the Colin Parker Memorial Intermediate Chase but there were some other notable performances on the day.   

Inside today’s main piece its notebook day I look back at the Carlisle card and there are a few horses from last weekend that are worth keeping onside going forward.  

Carlisle

It was proper jumping weather at Carlisle on Sunday with plenty of rain falling before and during racing.

According to the going description. It was heavy on the hurdles course and soft on the chase course. Looking at the times it was indeed heavy over the hurdles course but remained good too soft on the chase course.  I have to say watching on Racing TV it looked pretty attritional although the times suggest it wasn’t too bad.

Colin Parker Memorial Intermediate Chase

This year’s Colin Parker attracted a good field. A mix of second season chasers and a couple in Beauport and Bear Ghylls making their debut over the larger obstacles. The form of the race should be worth following. It was one of the chase debutants Beauport who came out on top to land the winner’s prize.

Minella Drama set a brisk pace out in front. He only tired between the final two fences, and this was solid enough return to action

Coming to the last there were still three in contention. Bear Gylls was having his first start since finishing 4^th to Bob Olinger in the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. He made a bad mistake at the second but otherwise he jumped well. A mistake at the last ended his chance and he faded on the run in. His long absence just took its toll in the final stages. This was solid effort on his debut over fences and he can still make up into a smart novice chaser.

Miller’s Bank hadn’t got beyond the first fence at Aintree last Sunday. He jumped better here and ran on from the last to get within ½ length of Beauport at the line. He just found the 12lb weight concession to the winner too much.

Corach Rambler, a winner of the Ultima Handicap Chase (3m 1f) at the Cheltenham Festival in March, was returning over an inadequate 2m 4f here. He had needed every yard of the trip at Cheltenham so not surprisingly this wasn’t going to be a suitable stamina test for the 8-year-old.  He plugged on late to finish 5^th. The race will have been needed and he’s on course for next month’s Coral Cup at Newbury.

The Gordon Richards Novices' Limited Handicap Chase

Iron Bridge making his debut over fences ran out an impressive winner. Sent quickly over fences, he’s now 4-4 under rules and clearly acted on the rain softened ground. He should stay 3m and is smart chasing prospect and one to keep onside going forward.

The other to take out of the race could be Donny Boy who finished 5th.  He was a shade keen on his seasonal return and might have needed the run after an 8 month absence. However, I think he found 2m 4f on soft ground too much of a stamina test and he may benefit for a return to shorter. The highly regarded 6-year-old has the potential to win races over fences in the North this winter.

A couple of others from Sunday

Good Risk At All who impressed and had plenty in hand when winning a handicap hurdle at Ascot in February made a winning return in the 2m 4f handicap hurdle. A steadily run race probably wasn’t to his liking but that didn’t stop the progressive 6-year-old from seeing off his seven rivals.

He will take a hit from the handicapper for this 4 ¾ length success. However, I think he can continue to progress, and a strongly run race will see him in an even better light. Rain softened ground really suits and his form figures on soft/heavy ground are now 1211 after this win.

The other horse to catch my eye on the card was Mount Melleray in the 3m 2f handicap chase. Runner-up on his final two starts over fences last season.  The 7-year-old ran well on his first start since February when a 4 ¼ length 4^th of 9 to Houston Texas.

He was quickly sent to the front and was only headed two out and was still bang in contention at the last. He jumped solidly although he tended to jump out to his left.  This was a good return to action.  I think he’s competitively weighted and can win a handicap chase up North.

More From The Notebook

I mentioned Our Power in Monday’s column after his win in the Bateaux London Gold Cup Handicap Chase. He’s going to be high on my shortlist for the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury if he gets a sound surface to race on.

Highway One O Two was another winner on the Ascot card. He made all to win the Class 2 Bateaux London Handicap Hurdle. Granted he had race fitness on his side and got the run of the race, but it was comfortable success and an improved performance from the 7-year-old.  A 7 ½ length success means the handicapper will most likely put him up 10lb but he can remain competitive.

The other winner I liked from Saturday’s action was Ginger Mail at Ayr.  It was a sound seasonal return to action. Given he only won by ¾ length he shouldn’t get hit too hard by the handicapper for this success. It was another improved effort from the 6-year-old who is now 2-4 over hurdles. There’s another handicap hurdle to be won with him in the coming weeks.

One who didn’t win on Saturday but is set for a good winter is Frero Banbou.  A beaten favourite (4/1) when third in last year’s Byrne Group Handicap Chase. He finished one place better this year.

The 7-year-old had shaped on his final two starts last season like needed further 2m 1f. A step up in trip looks on the cards and he could improve for it. There’s a decent handicap chase pot in him this season. He’s a best priced 14/1 with Bet365 for the Paddy Power Gold Cup (2m 4f) and that race could be on his agenda.

Tuesday Racing

The highlight of a seven race card is the 2m4f novice chase (2.05). As you would expect its just a small field with just four to meet the starter.  Mind you it’s a race full of interest. All four are making their debut over fences.

Warwick

2:05 – The bookies make the Dan Skelton trained West Cork the favourite. A high class handicap hurdler who made light of a 21 month absence when winning the valuable Greatwood Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham 12 months ago. He also placed in the County Hurdle and Scottish Champion prior to falling 3 out in Swinton Hurdle at Haydock. An 8-year-old but should do well over fences.

Stage Star won his first 3 starts over hurdles last season, including the Grade 1 Challow Hurdle at Newbury. Very disappointing in the Ballymore at Cheltenham Festival and ran just as poorly at Aintree. Clearly capable of going fresh and has had wind surgery since Aintree.

Skytastic has arguably the most scope over fences of the four runners.  The 6-year-old won his first four starts, two bumpers two seasons back and two hurdles last season. A well-beaten 10th of 14 to Gelino Bello in the Grade 1 Sefton Novices' Hurdle at Aintree in April. He ran better than his final position suggests as he was still in contention when making a bad mistake three out.

Interne De Sivola gets the 4-year-old weight allowance. He won two of his five starts in juvenile company last season. The last of those two successes came when making all to win at Stratford in March. Bred to do well over the larger obstacles and interesting that connections decide to send him over fences so quickly.

Verdict: I fancy we’ll see the best of Stage Star in the first half of the winter like we did last season. Skytastic is the one to interest me most and he would be a tentative pick.

Warwick feature doesn’t provide today’s selection. I’m off up North for a rare foray to Newcastle.

Tuesday Selection:

Newcastle

6:15 – Broctune Red a six time C&D winner, including this race 12 months ago off 1lb higher. Bounced back to form when a 1 ½ length 2nd of 11 over C&D 7-days ago. He’ll be hard to keep out of the frame once again.

Broctune Red – 7/1 @ Bet365 & Ladbrokes.

Good luck with your Tuesday bets.

John