Sunday at Carlisle

Paper Promise had a fine first season on the track in 2017-18, winning a couple of bumpers before finishing a staying on 7th beaten about 6 lengths in a Mares Grade 2 race at Aintree in April.
She now makes her hurdling debut tomorrow at Carlisle in a 2m 4f NH Novices Hurdle where she'll encounter soft going. Carlisle is a fine track for introduction of novices, especially when the outer track is being used as it is tomorrow. Nearly all the hurdles are jumped in rising ground, and the galloping nature of the outer track will suit our mare.

There are several of the opposition with previous jumping experience in Irish Points and/or novice hurdles. Couple that stand out are Lucinda's Ain't My Fault and Olly Murphy's Garrettstown and the latter in particular should be prominent. McCain's The Con Man won his Irish Point in April as expected and made 70k at the sales subsequently. With Brian Hughes in the saddle, he'll be fancied to make a winning start under Rules.

We sound like a broken record as far as hurdling debuts is concerned, but first and foremost for Paper Promise is a safe round, without getting involved in a battle too far from home. She schooled this morning, jumping well if slightly big and might sneek into a place but there are several other contenders who'll be thinking much the same.

Best of luck to Ron & Eileen, Ian and Wee Davie.

 
Paper Promise (Pinky)

It's Northern Lights Series Final's day at Carlisle, with 5 races in the series now having £35,000 added in prize money. Last year in the mares handicap hurdle, Paper Roses came within a neck of victory. This year, we are represented by Baby Ticker who is running off OR108 - she was successful at Ayr last season off 1lb lower.
The softer the better for her, and we've equipped her with blinkers as she can be a bit lazy at times.
McCain saddles three in the race and the Crawford Bros. are sending over a couple which makes up about half the field. Not quite WP & Elliott dominance though......
There's a wee bit of rain around, particularly the amount forecast for the morning of the race and this should help Baby Ticker who might be run off her feet in a fast run race otherwise.

Callum will take both rides as usual.

Baby Ticker (Georgina) leads Stainsby Girl