All signs point to Cumbria tomorrow for Carlisle’s two biggest races of the summer – and a double encore is not beyond the bounds of possibility.
Norton trainer Brian Ellison, successful 12 months ago in the £24,000 Lloyds Motor Group Carlisle Bell with Camerooney, is fancied to take the honours again with Pravda Street.
Mark Tompkins, who won last year’s identically valuable totesport.com Cumberland Plate with Brushing, is also strongly represented this time by Kathleen Frances.
Pravda Street has already proved a revelation since joining Ellison. He has won both his races this season in excellent style, most recently at Ayr last Friday when he scooted home by almost five lengths in the mud. With rain forecast, tomorrow’s going could well be on the soft side again.
Ellison has booked Brian Toomey to take the mount and reduce the gelding’s weight by 5lb, which virtually cancels out the 6lb penalty he picked up for winning at Ayr.
On the downside, Pravda Street is drawn widest of all, and Toomey, better known as a jump jockey but who rode his first winner on the Flat at Thirsk last week, will have to be on the ball to get his mount in good position.
While Ellison will also be represented by Union Island, the North Yorkshire challenge for this popular race is further boosted by David O’Meara, who saddles three runners, including the in-form Mont Ras (well drawn in stall one) and Kensei.
The Cumberland Plate over a mile and a half looks an equally competitive affair and while Ellison has an in-form horse in Ravi River, preference is for Kathleen Frances, the mount of Ashley Morgan.
The Tompkins-trained mare, winner of three races last summer, showed signs of returning to form at York last time out when fourth to Ellison’s Odin’s Raven.
Easy Terms, winner of her last three races, most recently at Thirsk last week, promises to be a tough rival for Kathleen Frances from Edwin Tuer’s in-form yard near Northallerton.
Tuer has a further winning chance with Ailsa Craig, the mount of Tony Hamilton, in the Carlisle Bell Consolation Handicap.
Narrowly beaten by City Of The Kings at Ripon last week, Ailsa Craig won this contest 12 months ago, so Tuer has every chance of repeating a notable success one year on.
Tim Easterby can win the British Stallion Studs Maiden Stakes with Bedlam, who is napped to fulfill the promise he showed when third at York on his debut earlier in the month.
Easterby’s newcomer Dazzling Bluebell (2.00), the chosen mount of stable jockey David Allan over stablemate See Clearly, is also worth noting, while Jeannie Galloway (4.40), at her best with ease in the ground, and the in-form Doc Hay (5.15) deserve attention in their respective races.
Racing selections
Carlisle
2.00 Dazzlin Bluebell, 2.30 Bedlam (NAP), 3.05 Ailsa Craig, 3.35 Pravda Street, 4.10 Kathleen Frances, 4.40 Jeannie Galloway, 5.15 Doc Hay.
Salisbury
2.10 Pink Sapphire, 2.45 Minal, 3.15 Mundana, 3.50 Leviathan, 4.20 Kinyras, 4.55 Dead Cool, 5.30 Hand Painted.
Tomorrow’s other meetings
Bath, Kempton and Worcester.
Today’s meetings
Beverley, Brighton, Newbury and Newton Abbot.
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