April 04 / 15.27 Carlisle

15.27

Good To Soft

Flat Season Opener Monday 18th May Handicap Chase

  • Prize money: £4488.85
  • 3m 0f 110y
  • Class 5
  • 7 runners
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Flat Season Opener Monday 18th May Handicap Chase

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

11/4 (Won)

  • Win: £1.91
  • Place: £1.20

Form: 3-2411

Last run: 22 days

W: 11st 9lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 95

Form & Verdict
Held on gamely to make all in four-runner Doncaster chase (3m2f, good to soft) last month and is now 2-4 for current stable; has more on his plate here and needs to prove himself on a right-handed track but still respected in current form.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

13th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 41y

Class 5

15:30 Hexham

Jamesieconn

12st 0lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Nicky Richards

Front-runner who has won his last three starts (2m7f-3m2f, good to soft/good), the latest at Carlisle nine days ago; clearly thriving and could be tough to beat for a stable that is in fantastic form.

15/8

1st

4

4th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 110y

Class 5

15:27 Carlisle

Jamesieconn

11st 9lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Nicky Richards

Held on gamely to make all in four-runner Doncaster chase (3m2f, good to soft) last month and is now 2-4 for current stable; has more on his plate here and needs to prove himself on a right-handed track but still respected in current form.

11/4

1st

3

13th Mar 2026

Good

3m 2f 1y

Class 5

15:39 Doncaster

Jamesieconn

11st 8lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Nicky Richards

Won a C&D chase for Sam England in February 2025 (good); doubled his tally in this sphere when scoring at Newcastle ten days ago (good to soft); penalised 7lb; major contender.

11/8

20/1

  • Place: £5.80

Form: 87-PP5

Last run: 37 days

W: 10st 2lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 74

Form & Verdict
Back from layoff with three disappointing runs this season and now 0-4 over fences; needs combination of drier ground and first-time cheekpieces to make a big difference.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12

18th Apr 2026

Good

3m 0f 30y

Class 5

13:52 Bangor-on-Dee

Tory Hill

10st 6lb

J: Jonathon Bewley

T: George Bewley

In new cheekpieces when second to a thriving rival at Carlisle (3m, good) and won't be far away if as good again.

10/1

2nd

9

4th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 110y

Class 5

15:27 Carlisle

Tory Hill

10st 2lb

J: Jonathon Bewley

T: George Bewley

Back from layoff with three disappointing runs this season and now 0-4 over fences; needs combination of drier ground and first-time cheekpieces to make a big difference.

20/1

5th

5

26th Feb 2026

Soft

3m 0f 45y

Class 5

17:15 Wetherby

Tory Hill

10st 6lb

J: Jonathon Bewley

T: George Bewley

Lightly raced 8yo who finished runner-up in four points; however, pulled up over fences on last two starts and a major turnaround is necessary.

14/1

Form: 541432 CD

Last run: 27 days

W: 12st 0lb

12 yo Gelding

OR: 100

Form & Verdict
Long in the tooth now but won here (3m2f, soft; refitted cheekpieces) in the autumn and was placed over C&D (good to soft) on last two appearances, more recently when keeping on to snatch modest second in higher-grade company; ought to make his presence felt again.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

1

4th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 110y

Class 5

15:27 Carlisle

Super Citizen

12st 0lb

J: Jamie Hamilton

T: Lucinda Hughes

Long in the tooth now but won here (3m2f, soft; refitted cheekpieces) in the autumn and was placed over C&D (good to soft) on last two appearances, more recently when keeping on to snatch modest second in higher-grade company; ought to make his presence felt again.

7/1

2nd

7

8th Mar 2026

Soft

3m 0f 110y

Class 4

16:25 Carlisle

Super Citizen

10st 9lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Lucinda Hughes

Veteran C&D winner who arrives in good nick, third of 14 over C&D last month; he can go well again off an unchanged mark.

4/1

3rd

3

3rd Feb 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 110y

Class 5

16:04 Carlisle

Super Citizen

11st 10lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Lucinda Hughes

Inconsistent 12yo who was well beaten at Kelso last time; however, two visits to Carlisle have yielded two wins (3m/3m2f, good/soft), the latest in November; firmly in calculations now back here.

8/1

Form: 43PP-5

Last run: 67 days

W: 10st 5lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 77

Form & Verdict
Ended 2024 in poor form over fences but returned from long absence with fairly encouraging hurdle run in January; remains unexposed at 3m and lightly raced in general; sports refitted cheekpieces; not ruled out.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

10

27th May 2026

Good

3m 1f 83y

Class 5

19:38 Cartmel

Kingofthegame

10st 2lb

J: Ryan Mania

T: Martin Todhunter

A fading third over fences here on Saturday (2m5f, good) when all headgear was left off; back hurdling off 1lb higher (out of the weights) and stamina could be stretched over this far.

12/1

3rd

11

23rd May 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 34y

Class 5

17:05 Cartmel

Kingofthegame

10st 4lb

J: Ryan Mania

T: Martin Todhunter

0-10 and lasted only three fences in a debuted visor (discarded) latest; saw out 3m well enough on the latter of two Irish point starts, but yet to hit the line strongly over 2m3f or beyond under rules.

10/1

11

2nd May 2026

Good

2m 4f 15y

Class 5

19:15 Hexham

Kingofthegame

10st 4lb

J: Callum Bewley

T: Martin Todhunter

Nine-race maiden; two fair efforts since returning from a 395-day break, notably when fourth over 3m at Carlisle last time (good; second-time cheekpieces); visor now tried and he's a possible.

12/1

Form: 3-P8P2 CD

Last run: 10 days

W: 11st 0lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 86

Form & Verdict
Belied 40-1 odds when keeping-on second (no threat to winner) at Hexham (4m, soft) last month and is also well suited by this track but is far too inconsistent to rely upon and would appeal more on soft/heavy ground.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

19th May 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 41y

Class 5

19:20 Hexham

Don Brocco

10st 8lb

J: Bruce Lynn

T: Gary Rutherford

1-20 over fences and although he finished second here (4m) in March, he has run below that since at Carlisle and back over hurdles at Perth; requires an extreme test to be seen at his best.

33/1

8th

9

22nd Apr 2026

Soft

2m 7f 207y

Class 5

16:40 Perth

Don Brocco

10st 5lb

J: Miss Lucy Brown

T: Gary Rutherford

Both hurdle wins came over 3m/3m1f on soft back in 2022; fair second in a 4m h'cap chase at Hexham last month (soft), but not so good last time.

16/1

5th

5

4th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 110y

Class 5

15:27 Carlisle

Don Brocco

11st 0lb

J: Edward Austin

T: Gary Rutherford

Belied 40-1 odds when keeping-on second (no threat to winner) at Hexham (4m, soft) last month and is also well suited by this track but is far too inconsistent to rely upon and would appeal more on soft/heavy ground.

9/1

Form: P-PPPP

Last run: 47 days

W: 11st 11lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 97

Form & Verdict
Useful for Henry de Bromhead in his prime but pulled up all five hurdle/chase runs since returning from long layoff for new yard last February.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

9th May 2026

Good

1m 7f 133y

Class 5

15:55 Hexham

Baptism Of Fire

11st 7lb

J: Jonathon Bewley

T: Kevin Hunter

Chase/hurdle winner for Henry de Bromhead; has pulled up on five of his six starts for present connections (well beaten over 3m on the other); best watched for now.

50/1

6th

2

4th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 110y

Class 5

15:27 Carlisle

Baptism Of Fire

11st 11lb

J: Conor Rabbitt

T: Kevin Hunter

Useful for Henry de Bromhead in his prime but pulled up all five hurdle/chase runs since returning from long layoff for new yard last February.

66/1

OUR TIP

Form: 5-1252

Last run: 18 days

W: 11st 10lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 96

Form & Verdict
Low-mileage 7yo who scored on seasonal/handicap/chase debut at Uttoxeter (2m4f, good to soft) in November and arguably bettered that performance when a close second at Exeter (3m, good to soft) last month; still unexposed at around 3m; leading contender.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

4th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 110y

Class 5

15:27 Carlisle

Girls Best Friend

11st 10lb

J: Ned Fox

T: Venetia Williams

Low-mileage 7yo who scored on seasonal/handicap/chase debut at Uttoxeter (2m4f, good to soft) in November and arguably bettered that performance when a close second at Exeter (3m, good to soft) last month; still unexposed at around 3m; leading contender.

7/2

2nd

3

17th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 54y

Class 5

16:05 Exeter

Girls Best Friend

11st 6lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

Scored at Uttoxeter (2m4f, soft) on seasonal/chase/handicap debut in November and ran well in defeat at Market Rasen (2m3f, good to soft) soon afterwards; ran in snatches and was disappointing when fifth (just behind Dyno Dave) at Ffos Las (3m heavy) in January but still considered here.

11/2

5th

7

30th Jan 2026

Heavy

2m 7f 177y

Class 4

14:20 Ffos Las

Girls Best Friend

11st 0lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

Lightly raced 7yo who has shown the benefit of being switched to handicaps and chasing, winning at Uttoxeter (2m4f, soft) then second at Market Rasen (2m3f); bred to be suited by this longer distance and remains open to further progress; shortlisted.

11/4

Non-runners

Voleur De Terres, Steal The Moves

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £15.70
Straight Forecast £15.22
Tricast £55.57
Trifecta £51.60

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Jamesieconn

SPOTLIGHT:

Girls Best Friend

POSTDATA:

Super Citizen

The Times:

Steal The Moves

Telegraph:

Jamesieconn

D Express:

Jamesieconn

Daily Mirror:

Jamesieconn

The Star:

Jamesieconn

The Guardian:

Girls Best Friend

Daily Record:

Girls Best Friend

Daily Mail:

Super Citizen