April 19 / 14.52 Carlisle

14.52

Good

Flat Season Opener 19th May Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £3812.2
  • 2m 3f 61y
  • Class 4
  • 7 runners
RTV
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Flat Season Opener 19th May Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

5/6 (Won)

  • Win: £1.73
  • Place: £1.10

Form: 1-3P11 C

Last run: 27 days

W: 11st 12lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 115

Form & Verdict
French 2m4f chase winner in 2024; now in a good vein of form over hurdles, winning two novices here (2m1f, good/good to soft) in March; that looks the best form on offer and Dominic Hislop's claim helps offset the double penalty; leading contender.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

14

1st Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 180y

Class 2

15:40 Musselburgh

Bel Amigo

10st 2lb

J: Bruce Lynn

T: N W Alexander

Front-runner; won three novice hurdles at Carlisle (2m1f/2m3f, good to soft/good) last spring; placed in three of his five handicaps since but the last two instances were over just 2m1f and 2m, so this new trip asks a big question; he's also 5lb out of the handicap.

16/1

2

16th Oct 2025

Good

2m 1f 33y

Class 4

13:22 Carlisle

Bel Amigo

11st 13lb

J: Dominic Hislop

T: N W Alexander

Won three novice hurdles in a row here (2m1f-2m3f, good to soft/good) in the spring, including under Dominic Hislop, and he returned from a break to finish third in a handicap at Perth (2m4f, good to soft) three weeks ago; could build on that latest performance now back here; firmly in calculations.

9/4

3

24th Sep 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 35y

Class 4

15:08 Perth

Bel Amigo

11st 13lb

J: Bruce Lynn

T: N W Alexander

Showed the benefit of a wind op when winning three consecutive Carlisle novice hurdles (2m1f-2m3f, good/good to soft) towards end of last season; may yet have more improvement to come but managed only sixth of seven when back in a handicap here (2m) in May and has fitness to prove after break.

8/1

20/1

  • Place: £2.90

Form: 6

Last run: 114 days

W: 11st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Fifth in a point and sixth in a bumper in Ireland, wearing a tongue-strap on second occasion; bred to stay well; also declared for the 2.10 Fairyhouse.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

11

20th Jan 2026

Yielding To Soft

2m 1f 33y

12:50 Down Royal

Largy Spirit

11st 4lb

J: Ms E Dunseath

T: Noel C Kelly

Remote second in 2m4f Carlisle novice for Stuart Crawford last April but never counted on last month's return at this track for new yard; hard to see him playing a major role.

50/1

2nd

5

19th Apr 2025

Good

2m 3f 61y

Class 4

14:52 Carlisle

Largy Spirit

11st 0lb

J: Ben Bromley

T: S R B Crawford

towards rear, awkward jump 4th

20/1

Form: 24U2PP D

Last run: 46 days

W: 11st 0lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 107

Form & Verdict
Front-running chaser who can go clear in his races; last two runs have been poor and he bled from the nose on latest; carries risks but he'd be dangerous if this switch back to hurdling sparks a revival.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

18th Oct 2025

Good

2m 4f 205y

Class 4

14:30 Stratford

Cartonne

11st 10lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Donald McCain

Front-running chaser who can go clear in his races but he's not won since December 2023 and was pulled up in his last two runs over fences; on dangerous mark back in this sphere but he needs a major revival after six months off.

7/1

3rd

4

19th Apr 2025

Good

2m 3f 61y

Class 4

14:52 Carlisle

Cartonne

11st 0lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Donald McCain

led, headed and raced in second 8th, weakened before 2 out

7/1

3rd

4

19th Apr 2025

Good

2m 3f 61y

Class 4

14:52 Carlisle

Cartonne

11st 0lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Donald McCain

led, headed and raced in second 8th, weakened before 2 out

7/1

Form: 89-66

Last run: 14 days

W: 10st 7lb

5 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Unplaced all four starts, tailed off on hurdling debut; others preferred.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

15

27th Mar 2026

Good

3m 0f 26y

Class 5

16:50 Wetherby

Moveonbuy

10st 6lb

J: William Maggs

T: Andrew Crook

Cartmel winner who nearly doubled her tally over C&D in January; needs to leave subsequent efforts behind.

20/1

6th

6

4th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 71y

Class 5

15:40 Catterick

Moveonbuy

10st 8lb

J: William Maggs

T: Andrew Crook

Only win was at Cartmel last June (2m6f, soft); best run since when runner-up at Wetherby in January (3m, soft); well beaten since and cheekpieces now tried.

14/1

6th

9

16th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 0y

Class 5

16:40 Carlisle

Moveonbuy

10st 7lb

J: William Maggs

T: Andrew Crook

Inconsistent sort who was soundly beaten at Southwell a fortnight ago; however, she won at Cartmel (2m6f, soft) last June and was beaten just a head at Wetherby (3m, soft) two starts ago; not discounted.

12/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
3-33 on Flat, one of those wins on this course (1m1f) on good to soft ground; late to hurdling and stamina could be an issue over this trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

8

17th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 5

15:12 Wetherby

Berry Edge

11st 0lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: David Thompson

Three-time Flat winner (including on good to soft) who got off the mark over hurdles at the seventh attempt over C&D (soft) last month; he did it comfortably and an 8lb rise may not stop him if he can back up that effort.

9/2

1st

7

26th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 5

15:00 Wetherby

Berry Edge

10st 11lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: David Thompson

3-34 on the Flat and took a step forward in this headgear combination at Catterick (1m7f, soft) latest in his third handicap hurdle, finishing third of five; however, was 7l behind runner-up Voodoo Angel so has work to do.

8/1

3rd

5

30th Jan 2026

Soft

1m 7f 156y

Class 5

16:23 Catterick

Berry Edge

10st 10lb

J: Jack Power

T: David Thompson

3-34 on Flat; lightly raced over hurdles and soundly beaten in November in first two handicaps in this code (2m1f, soft); the reapplied cheekpieces and first-time tongue-tie could help but others have more pressing claims.

16/1

OUR TIP

Form: 8941

Last run: 24 days

W: 11st 7lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Unplaced in bumpers but off the mark immediately over hurdles at Market Rasen (2m4f, good; 20-1) last month, making all under Brian Hughes; that form might not have much depth but he jumped soundly in the main and is open to improvement.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

21st Jul 2025

Good

2m 1f 61y

Class 3

15:45 Cartmel

Hes A Diamond

10st 5lb

J: Harry Reed

T: L J Morgan

Won modest maiden hurdle in March but struggled on recent stable/chase debut at Uttoxeter (race contested by Anyharminasking and Willie Shake Hands) and is effectively 1lb higher from further out of the weights here; swaps hood for first-time cheekpieces.

40/1

4

14th Jun 2025

Good

1m 7f 214y

Class 3

19:40 Uttoxeter

Hes A Diamond

10st 5lb

J: Adam Wedge

T: L J Morgan

Made all to cause 20-1 surprise in modest maiden hurdle at Market Rasen (2m4f, good) for Micky Hammond in March but was sold for £5,000 after two subsequent heavy defeats (2m3f/2m5f) and is 3lb out of the weights for this stable/chase/handicap debut; drops back in trip and is fitted with first-time hood/tongue-tie; too risky.

16/1

6th

1

7th May 2025

Good

2m 4f 189y

Class 4

14:55 Kelso

Hes A Diamond

11st 8lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Micky Hammond

Unplaced in bumpers but off the mark immediately over hurdles at Market Rasen (2m4f, good; 20-1) in March, making all under Brian Hughes; that was an emphatic success but he flopped under a penalty at Carlisle last month and needs to bounce back after that heavy defeat.

4/1

Form: 934

Last run: 213 days

W: 10st 7lb

6 yo Mare

OR:

Form & Verdict
Modest form in bumpers in 2024, one-paced fourth at Kelso (good) on latest; bred to be suited by this step up in distance, so it's not out of the question that she'll make an impact on today's hurdling debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

3rd Oct 2025

Good

2m 0f 48y

Class 4

14:10 Hexham

Getaway Frankie

11st 0lb

J: Harry Reed

T: Tristan Davidson

Improved to cause 40-1 shock over C&D (good to soft) on stable debut in June; pulled up on next outing but steadied the ship with very respectable handicap run here in August and has big role to play today.

6/1

5th

5

27th Aug 2025

Good To Firm

2m 0f 48y

Class 4

17:45 Hexham

Getaway Frankie

11st 9lb

J: Harry Reed

T: Tristan Davidson

Made a winning start for his current handler in novice over C&D but she was pulled up in similar company at Cartmel later in June; she needs to get back on track.

10/1

1

29th Jun 2025

Soft

2m 1f 46y

Class 4

14:10 Cartmel

Getaway Frankie

11st 7lb

J: Harry Reed

T: Tristan Davidson

Pulled up on both hurdling starts for Nicky Richards this spring, but displayed a huge jolt of improvement to cause a 40-1 surprise on recent stable debut at Hexham (2m, good to soft); likely contender under penalty.

11/2

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £5.70
Straight Forecast £5.10
Trifecta £19.10

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Bel Amigo

Telegraph:

He's A Diamond

The Star:

Getaway Frankie

The Sun:

He's A Diamond

RP RATINGS:

Bel Amigo

TOPSPEED:

Bel Amigo

POSTDATA:

Bel Amigo

The Times:

Bel Amigo

The Guardian:

Bel Amigo

Daily Mail:

Bel Amigo

D Express:

Bel Amigo

Daily Mirror:

Bel Amigo

Daily Record:

Bel Amigo