Racecards
15:00 Carlisle
Pauline Phizacklea Memorial Novices' Handicap Hurdle (Class 5)
- 8 Runners
- Distance: 2m 3f 61y
- Going: Soft (Heavy in places)
- Surface: Turf
- £7,500 added
- Winner: £3,961
- 2nd: £1,822
- 3rd: £911
- 4th: £456
- Form 2-569
- Age 7
- Weight 12-0
- Official Rating 95
- Trainer N G Richards
- Jockey Danny McMenamin
in touch in rear, ridden and headway approaching last, stayed on to lead final strides
- Form 22P5/45
- Age 8
- Weight 11-11
- Official Rating 92
- Trainer N W Alexander
- Jockey Bruce Lynn
close up, ridden 2 out, weakened flat
- Form 8763-20
- Age 7
- Weight 11-11
- Official Rating 92
- Trainer Mrs J Walton
- Jockey Ross Chapman
led, ridden and headed 2 out, weakened next
- Form 3-47801
- Age 6
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 91
- Trainer T Lacey
- Jockey Stan Sheppard
close up, every chance from 2 out, ridden to lead towards finish, headed final strides
- Form 75-0562
- Age 6
- Weight 10-10
- Official Rating 77
- Trainer D W Whillans
- Jockey Craig Nichol
raced wide, tracked leaders, led 2 out, ridden and headed towards finish
- Form P-335PP
- Age 9
- Weight 10-9
- Official Rating 76
- Trainer N Mechie
- Jockey C O'Farrell
prominent, ridden and every chance 2 out, weakened flat
- Form 6/545
- Age 11
- Weight 10-9
- Official Rating 76
- Trainer H Bethell
- Jockey B S Hughes
keen close up, hit 6th and next, weakened 2 out
- Form 6-PU6PP
- Age 7
- Weight 10-9
- Official Rating 76
- Trainer G Bewley
- Jockey Jonathon Bewley
keen in touch in rear, mistake 4 out, not fluent next, ridden and headway 2 out, tracked leaders next, kept on one pace
In depth
Verdict
IMPERIAL ALEX won only narrowly at Warwick but the runner-up has gone in since. That’s the best piece of recent form on offer and Tom Lacey’s charge can defy a 5lb rise. Eden Mill was no match for the winner when second at Ayr and steps back up in trip fitted with a tongue-tie while Coniston Clouds and Blazing Port will need to improve on recent efforts to figure, though the former may well do so now handicapping for the first time.
Formwatch
Coniston Clouds (IRE) 10-1 (11-5) In touch, lost place 3 out, hit last, 9th of 11, 22 3/4l behind Sleeping Satellite (11-5) at Carlisle 2m 1f (4) gs in Feb.
Blazing Port (IRE) 7-1 (11-8) Mid-division, not fluent 3rd, chased leaders before 3 out, ridden before 2 out, kept on, not pace to challenge, 5th of 15, 12 3/4l behind Fortcanyon (11-4) at Newcastle 2m 6f hcp (5) sft in Jan.
Noble Affair (IRE) 80-1 (11-3) Chased leader until after 4 out, weakened quickly and soon behind, tailed off next, 10th of 11, dist behind Miss Milano (11-6) at Wetherby 2m 5f hcp (4) gs in Oct.
Imperial Alex (IRE) 9-4fav (11-0) Towards rear, went mid-division 5th, headway into 2nd after 3 out, led approaching 2 out where not fluent, soon pushed along, ran on well, always doing enough, won at Warwick 2m 5f hcp (5) gd in Feb beating Mole Court (11-3) by 1/2l, 12 ran.
Eden Mill (IRE) 6-1 (10-2) In touch, ridden and headway 2 out, stayed on to go 2nd close home, 2nd of 8, 12l behind Fia Fuinidh (11-11) at Ayr 2m hcp (5) hvy in Jan.
Monticello (IRE) 66-1 (8-13) Chased leader, ridden 3f out, weakened 1f out, 7th of 9, 4 1/2l behind Bobby Shaftoe (9-3) at Newcastle 2m hcp (6) pol in Mar.
Lopes Dancer (IRE) 28-1 (10-2) Held up, headway 3 out, ridden and kept on one pace, 5th of 16, 12 3/4l behind Pearly Island (11-13) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp (5) gs in Jan.
Strike Of Lighting (IRE) 12-1 (10-8) Rear of mid-division, ridden and well beaten after 3 out, pulled up before last, at Catterick 2m 3f hcp (5) gd in Feb.