Carlisle Races. Credit: JThomas - Geograph
A busy afternoon instore for Carlisle races on Sunday, as they host one of the meetings that I always love attending, the Colin Parker memorial chase day.
This race always throws up a horse to follow for the year I believe, and there’s statistics to back that up as well.
Last year’s winner was none other than my selection for the Grand National in Fiddlerontheroof, who consitently ran well in the big races after winning on this day 12 months ago.
Trained by the Tizzards and ridden by Brendan Powell Jnr, he beat Pay the Piper by 1 1/4 lengths, staying on strongly up the run in, which showed he was obviously capable of staying a longer trip, but he just couldn't quite stay out the 4m 2f in the National, travelling well until out where he made a mistake, and tired up the run-in to finish 5th in the end.
One race which some of the winners/runners always seem to head for afterwards as well is the race formerly known as the Hennessey, now called the Newbury Coral Gold Cup which is ran around Newbury on November 26th this year around, with one of the runners being initially entered for it, and available at the time of writing at 8/1 second favourite.
Fiddlerontheroof rocked up at that meeting and ran in the Coral Gold Cup, finishing second in it by 1/2 length, staying on well but just not being able to go past the Venetia Williams trained Cloudy Glen who won it in the Trevor Hemmings colours, another owner who also has had a winner of the Colin Parker.
Hemmings, who is sadly no longer with us after passing away in October last year, had Many Clouds win the race eight years ago now back in 2014, and I was there that day when he won that.
Many Clouds was a fanatastic horse who loved racing, trained by Oliver Sherwood, and ridden by Leighton Aspell, he went on to win the Hennessey straight after his win at Carlisle, beating coincidentally another Venetia Williams trained runner Houblon Des Obeaux by 3 and 1/4 lengths.
He wasn't finished there though, he won a Grade 2 at Cheltenham in January 2015, before going on to win the grandest race of them all in the Grand National around Aintree to cap off a season which all started at Carlisle.
'Clouds' went on to win two more races in his career, once more around Aintree in a listed race, before producing a superb display at the grand old age of 10 to down Thistlecrack at Cheltenham in January 2017.
That race was sadly his last, after he passed away on track that day, but he's a horse that will always stick fondly in my mind, and his win at Carlisle is one of my earliest racing memories which made me fall in love with the sport.
There's been so many brilliant winners though, Lostintranslation won in 2019 for the Tizzards then went on to finish 3rd in the Cheltenham Gold Cup that year, Imperial Aura, Waiting Patiently and Mister Whitaker are also all well-known names in racing, and have all won the contest in their careers.
So a great day in store, but to kick things off though we have a couple of other interesting races which build up to the feature of all the action, so let's start looking for some winners shall we?
12:50pm Novices' Hurdle 2m 4f
A tricky race to kick things off, and there's a few interesting new recruits to the hurdling scene here.
Regarde for Jamie Snowden is returning from a 589-day absence for his new yard, after finishing 6th in a bumper over in Ireland in March 2021.
His yard is in really good form though, and he's got a chance, likewise has The King of Ryhope for the Skeltons who has also been off the track for a long time, not being seen since his Irish points win back in 2020, but he's another one to keep your eye on.
The horse that seems to be the most solid choice here is Grove Road for Archie Watson, who won a bumper at Sedgefield last December and showed an excellent attitude that day.
He's been off for almost a year but could just be that little bit sharper than those two rivals that have been off for way longer.
I fancy him to win, with either one of the other two chasing him home, with slight preference for Regarde to finish 2nd, and The King of Ryhope to be a close 3rd.
1:25pm Novices' Handicap Chase 2m 4f
Big field here for this class 3 Novices' Chase, and plenty of horses which stand a good chance.
Iron Bridge sets the standard for the O'Neills with an unbeaten record so far, and looks like the type who could take all the beating here on chase debut.
Viva Lavilla for the Skeltons is a horse who is also made for chasing and looks to be a real threat, with Donny Boy also putting some good hurdle form together and another who should take a big step forward now tackling larger obstacles.
I like Viva Lavilla though, he was a good solid jumper last year over hurdles and always looked like chasing was going to be his game, even though he didn't disgrace himself at all over hurdles.
Iron Bridge and Donny Boy can follow him home and Hasty Brook is also interesting for Rebecca Menzies after joining her yard in the summer from Joseph O'Brien's.
1:58pm Handicap Hurdle 2m 1f
Handicap hurdle time next, and I'm struggling in this one to find a horse who I really like I'll be honest.
Lovely Moon made a good enough start for the Bewleys on debut to finish 4th at Hexham before finishing in the same place again at the track the run after.
A break will have done him good, and I like his chances here.
Serious Ego looks on a very good mark for Nicky Richards as well though, with his yard firmly amongst the winners, despite this horse not winning since 2021.
Where's Hector is also very consistent at getting placed and is one for the shortlist again, with Happy Du Mensil potentially looking like he's ready to put it all together now if his jumping holds up, very competitive race indeed this.
I'll stick with Lovely Moon EW here though, despite a few holding some really strong claims, and I'll go with Wor Verge as my main pick, who won here last time out and gets on really well with Nathan Moscrop.
2:30pm Colin Parker Memorial Chase (Listed) 2m 4f
Onto the big race now, and we have some really good horses rocking up again this year for this contest.
Corach Rambler had an excellent season last year for Lucindia Russell, winning three times, and now holding an entry, second favourite and available at 8/1 currently, for the Newbury Gold Cup.
Bear Ghylls was a very useful hurdler for Nicky Martin, winning three times and then finishing 4th behind Bob Olinger at Cheltenham.
He's been off 19 months, so could potentially find himself needing the run, but he's a very good horse nonetheless and it'll be interesting to see if he retains all of his ability now going over fences.
Beauport was really consistent last campaign for Nigel Twiston-Davies, finishing 2nd three times before winning at Uttoxeter, and finishing 4th at Aintree on his last start.
They'll be no problems with the trip, and he should take really well to fences, and looks to be the main contender in this.
Minella Drama also showed plenty of ability last season for Donald McCain and is capable of progressing this year, whilst Millers Bank does set the standard, but is risky with all of his unseating in his record, with him getting no further than the first fence last week.
Corach Rambler is my selection though here, the shorter trip may not suit but that plays to his advantages because he will definitely be staying on, and I think if the pace is a good enough one and he can get a bit of cover in this smaller field, then he'll take the spoils and set up a tilt at the Newbury Gold Cup.
Beauport and Minella Drama for me are the two main threats, with Bear Ghylls and Millers Bank best watched for this outing.
3:05pm Handicap Hurdle (Class 2) 2m 4f
Back to hurdles for the next contest, and a valuable prize money pot at stake here for the winner.
Good Risk at All sets the standard with some good performances last season, whilst Wholestone also returns here off top weight after some disappointing performances towards the end of last season.
Silver Hallmark finished 4th in the Colin Parker last season, and was only seen twice over fences after that, failing to win on either appearance.
He now returns back to hurdles off a nice weight, with trainer Fergal O'Brien having another fantastic summer and start to the winter season, and his horse definitely makes the shortlist here.
I like Good Risk at All for my main selection, but I'll be taking a chance with Romeo Brown as well who has been running really well since his win at Kelso back in March, winning a valuable class 2 at Haydock over further, and is still in form.
3:40pm Handicap Chase (Class 3) 3m 2f
The third big race in a row on today's card, another very competitive race, with plenty of horses looking like they could be contenders here.
Houston Texas finished off last season with two really nice wins and hasn't reached his limit yet, and could progress again to take this for trainer Nicky Richards, who like I said up above, is in excellent form.
Niceandeasy is also lightly raced and did take to fences last winter, winning twice, and still has room in the handicap like Houston Texas to keep on improving.
Rath au Lair and Morning Spirit should both be fine with the trip, it's just if they are good enough still, but Seven No Trumps hacked up on his first appearance last season for the Skeltons, and continued to perform well with two 3rds.
He hasn't been this far before, but on his last start at Wetherby looked as though this trip could suit, so if he manages to do just that, he's very dangerous.
I do like Houston Texas though, and I think it will end up being a good battle between him and Seven No Trumps here, with slight preference for the latter who should be capable of winning or at least getting placed his staying.
4:13pm National Hunt Flat 2m 1f
A bumper to round off what has been a really good card, and we should have a few nice horses here with good futures in the game.
Fuji Rocks should prove hard to beat after travelling like the winner for a long time at Perth before finishing 3rd.
He should see his race out better this time, but could face a strong challenge from both Benny's Silver and Blue Ridge Hill who both finished 2nd on their bumper debuts this season, and should also prove better for that run.
Perculator also performed better last time for Mark Walford, but my preference is for Blue Ridge Hill, who ran over course and distance here on October 13th and finished behind a smart Jonjo O'Neill horse called Saint Davy that time out, and that form could end up proving useful down the line.
Good luck to everyone as always, and I hope you enjoyed another preview piece, would also like to point out I do really like the look of Bravemansgame for the Charlie Hall, it should be a cracker though no matter what.
A reminder of my selections...
12:50pm - Win: Grove Road Dangers: Regarde, The King of Ryhope.
1:25pm - Win/EW: Viva Lavilla Dangers: Iron Bridge, Donny Boy.
1:58pm - Win: Wor Verge EW: Lovely Moon.
2:30pm - Win: Corach Rambler Dangers: Minella Drama, Beauport.
3:05pm - Win: Good Risk at All EW: Romeo Brown.
3:40pm - Win: Houston Texas Dangers: Seven No Trumps, Morning Spirit.
4:13pm - Win: Blue Ridge Hill Danger: Fuji Rocks, Benny Silver.
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