Carlisle Thursday

This biting, fresh wind is certainly drying up the ground at the Northern racecourses. Carlisle's advance going is good to soft but there may have been a bit of overnight drizzle.
A couple of outsiders from the yard go in their respective races.

Nights In Venice ran a nice enough race when 4th over an extended 2m 3f here a couple of weeks ago, but there aren't that many 3 mile novice hurdles going about so we return to the Cumbrian track where he will face 5 opponents in the 1.35 pm. The first time tongue tie is retained.

And there are 2 or 3 fairly formidable opponents in the field. Headed by McCain's impressive Uttoxeter winner Barrowdale who continued his progressive profile with that 40 length success. He won an Irish Point in December '20 and Lucinda fields another Irish Point winner (a dual winner no less) in the shape of Your Own Story who ran a very promising race when 3rd over 2½ miles at Ayr recently. The trip looks ideal and he receives 7lb from Barrowdale.

Another previous winner - just last Saturday - is Gavin Cromwell's ex Flat performer Silvertown.  He looked to improve for the sounder surface when winning at Navan but the return to 3 miles may just catch him out.

Jedd O'Keefe's Burrow Seven has run steadily better in his 3 runs to date and looks sure to suited by today's 3 miles after finishing 5th on his hurdling introduction last month. Debutant Midnight Fiddler completes the line up.

We hope Nights In Venice can continue his own progression over hurdles in this race. Craig Nichol rides again.

Nights In Venice (Callum)

And on to our runner in the bumper, Cowboy Cooper.

He's been pleasing us at home and we are looking forward to jumping a hurdle with him but this race will see him gain more racecourse experience beforehand. He finished 7th in an Ayr bumper to the subsequently Grade 2 placed Carnfunnock and the form of others in the race has held up too.
But there are several fancied horses here, so again we're looking for our horse to continue to improve rather than having a winning chance.

5lb conditional Bruce Lynn comes in for the ride.

McCain - Hughes again provide the favourite with the unbeaten Maximilian, a son of the late Adlerflug, who prior to his bumper win was also successful in an Irish Point. Even conceding 7lb all round, he'll be hard to beat. In similar fashion to the nhovice hurdle covered above, Gavin Cromwell brings over his nearest challenger in the shape of the Walk In The Park gelding Western Walk whose 2nd run when 3rd to Pinkerton at Down Royal makes eye-catching reading.

But it's not a 2 horse race by any means as Craig Nichol is in the saddle for Oliver Greenall's Irish Point runner up Snowy Evening. From the first crop of Snow Sky (top class over 12f), he was acquired for 110k after that Point run.
Hard Iron and Clear White Light have run promisingly while debutant Irene Goodnight is a Walk In The Park half-sister to Santini.

Cowboy Cooper (Callum) on the right