By Charlie McCann
Plenty of flat racing to sink our teeth into this afternoon with Carlisle staging a seven race card and Richard Fahey mob-handed with no less than six runners, four in second race, a maiden over six furlongs. Stable jockey Tony Hamilton opts to ride Phoenix Storm ahead of the other trio but the one they all need to beat is Mark Johnston’s Summer Times (2.30) who can make it fifth time lucky under Joe Fanning.
The son of Bahri was second in maidens at Catterick and Ripon; the second of which saw the colt chase home the G3 Accomb Stakes runner-up Toocoolforschool. Rated 78, he sets a fair standard and with a bit more luck on his side, can carry on the trainer’s excellent record at the track this season.
The combination can double up with Henry the Aviator (4.00) in the feature mile handicap, returning to his last winning mark of 83. The 4-y-o returned from a short break to run an excellent second last time out when beaten less than a length in a warm race at Leicester. The selection is likely to appreciate the better ground and is taken to be prominent, from the plumb draw in stall two.
Franny Norton rides for the Johnston team over at Catterick and providing Sir Charlie Kunz (4.45) transfers his all-weather form onto the turf, he looks well treated in the mile and a half handicap. The Dalakhani colt has always been held in high regard for the team, putting his maiden form to one side since sent handicapping, beaten at odds-on on his beau at Lingfield before scooting up on his next start at Wolverhampton.
He returned from a break of almost seven months to run a creditable third on ground less than ideal at Beverley over a mile and a quarter and the step up in trip should suit further, expected to go close from just a pound higher mark.
Another trainer in-form in the north is Alan Swinbank with four winners from the trainer’s last fourteen runners .Last week’s scorer Giovanni Jack (3.10) looks chucked-in under a 6lb penalty in the stayers’ handicap, and given the manner of last week’s success at Musselburgh, looks very difficult to beat under the guidance of Robert Winston..
There’s all-weather action from Lingfield and Kempton with Baar’s Causeway (5.55) fancied to score at the latter’s twilight card. William Buick looks an eye-catching jockey booking for the Timothy Jarvis yard, with the 4-y-o fancied to take advantage of his tumbling mark.
Allegation (6.55) was beaten a head in a warm maiden over course and distance last time out by John Gosden’s Sona, the pair drawing clear of Sir Michael Stoute‘s well-bred Long View. David Lanigan’s Lawman filly can make it fourth time lucky with blinkers on for the first-time and Ted Durcan in the plate.
The William Haggas stable remain in excellent form, Fury winning for the column at Chepstow on Bank Holiday Monday, and Homage (7.55) can continue the hot streak in the feature mile handicap. Ryan Moore retains the ride after partnering the selection to victory on his seasonal return earlier in the season at Windsor in a very pleasing manner, running on to score by three lengths. The 4-y-o handles the track having won his maiden back here two seasons back and he looks well-treated from just a 6lb rise at the weights.
Another runner with form at the track is Chris Wall’s Trucanini (8.55) – twice a scorer over course and distance last term and back down to her last winning mark of 84. The filly was never able land a blow last time out at Lingfield from a poor draw but has been dropped a pound and with a preferential draw in stall two, is a confident selection.
For all the latest odds and more head to BetVictor.com
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