National Hunt cards at both Ludlow and Limerick have been abandoned this afternoon leaving Carlisle as the sole turf card on ground official described as ‘heavy'. Today's conditions are sure to stretch the stamina of the majority of this afternoon's runners with Donald McCain's Breezemount (1.50) taken to do just that in the opening 2m Novices' Hurdle under Henry Brooke. The selection won a point-to-point in his native Ireland at the third time of asking when last seen in November and after changing hands for £26,000 at the sales thereafter can reward his new connections by making a winning debut under rules.
McCain's Mo Chailin is respected stepping up in trip for the Mares' Novices' Hurdle over two and a half miles after three promising runs over the minimum trip. The daughter of Milan should handle conditions better than most but preference lies instead with Lucinda Russell's Miss Tiggy (2.55) under Peter Buchanan. Another daughter of Milan, she should relish the forecast heavy ground and caught the eye when finishing second on her seasonal debut last month at Kelso. She should strip fitter for the run and can shed the maiden tag at the third time of asking.
A disappointing field of just three go to post for the feature 3m Novices' Handicap Chase with the McCain, Russell and Kirby stables all represented and Donald's dual course winner Subtle Grey (4.05) given the nod under Sam Twiston-Davies. The selection built on his seasonal reappearance at Bangor to make all at the track over two and a half miles, and followed that by chasing home Racing Pulse last time out over three miles at Chepstow. The 7-y-o has been raised 5lb for those efforts but thrives when the mud's flying and this former point-to-point winner is a confident selection to score for a fourth time under rules.
A win for Subtle Grey would give a nice form boost to Morning Royalty (3.30) in the 2m Novices' Handicap Chase under Brian Hughes. James Moffatt's gelding was rated as high as 135 over timber and has been far from disgraced over the larger obstacles thereafter. He failed to stay two and a half miles when second to Subtle Grey at the track earlier in the campaign and was far from disgraced on horrendous ground last time out at Haydock. The selection has to concede upwards of 7lb to the field but is the best horse in the race and must go close from his unrevised mark of 120.
There's twilight action on the all-weather at Kempton where Michael Wigham's Happy Jack (5.25) can shed the maiden tag at the belated 17th time of asking under George Baker. The 5-y-o has been placed in two of his last four starts and looked something of an unlucky loser last time out at Chelmsford when hampered in the closing stages. He should remain competitive despite a 2lb rise at the weights.
Baker partners Schoolboy Error in the handicap over a mile and a half with Jamie Osbourne's well-bred son of Roderic O'Connor respected stepping up in trip after disappointing last time out when a beaten favourite over a mile. He previously chased home Kalamata (6.55) at Wolverhampton when Roger Varian's filly made a winning handicap debut, and she is entitled to progress further to follow-up accordingly under Jack Mitchell. The selection was well-backed prior to scoring readily last month on the tapeta and is a confident selection to follow-up on the polytrack surface.
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