Carlisle host a competitive eight-race card of jumping on Thursday, with two divisions of a Class 4 novice hurdle and a two-mile handicap chase.
In the 2m Class 3 Rhino.Bet Novices' Limited Handicap Chase (1:50), Fringill Dike will be chasing a fourth straight success for the Jedd O'Keeffe team. The six-year-old has been a revelation since the application of blinkers in May, picking up a handicap chase and two novice equivalents. He returns to open company following a comfortable success at Worcester in a four-runner field and although the gelding faces a stiffer test against more experienced individuals, he continues to improve with each outing. The O'Keeffe yard have only sent out five runners in the last fortnight, all at odds of 12/1 or longer, and picked up a 20/1 winner on the Flat at Newcastle.
WIN: FRINGILL DIKE
Although there are horses with more experience in division one of the 2m1f Class 4 Daily Charged Up Offers At Rhino.Bet Novices' Hurdle (2:25), Lorna Fowler's Recoded could make a pleasing start to his hurdling career. The gelding shaped with plenty of promise in an Ayr bumper in April, making good progress in the latter stages of the contest before staying on to finish two-and-a-half-lengths third. The five-year-old has the assistance of jockey Derek Fox for his hurdling debut, who is currently in flying form with a 21% strike rate from the last fourteen days.
WIN: RECODED
In division two of the 2m1f Class 4 Daily Charged Up Offers At Rhino.Bet Novices' Hurdle (3:00), the experienced Fizzle Rock travels over from Ireland and should be competitive based on her previous form. Trained by Nigel Slevin, the six-year-old recorded a maiden hurdle win at Sligo before finishing a good third in a Listowel handicap hurdle. Despite a couple of minor errors, the mare is a fairly sound jumper and she retains her partnership with jockey Carl Millar, who claims seven pounds.
WIN: FIZZLE ROCK
A competitive field of twelve line up for the 3m½f Class 3 Bet In Play On Rhino.Bet Handicap Chase (Challenger Staying Chase Series Qualifier) (3:35). Some of the leading contenders will be making their seasonal reappearances and it may benefit to side with a horse that has race fitness on side, such as Nicky Richard's Court Dreaming. Although his recent form figures may not inspire confidence for a win, the ten-year-old is a former course and distance winner who has an excellent record at the track, with three victories over fences and hurdles. He was pulled up when last seen after never travelling at Hexham and a return to conditions which suit is expected to spark some improvement in the gelding.
WIN: COURT DREAMING
The 2m1f Class 5 Rhino.Bet Home Of Charged Up Sport Open NH Flat Race (5:20) has attracted fifteen runners and Donald McCain could turn around his recent poor form with Iorangi De L'Isle. A faller on point-to-point debut, the five-year-old recorded an easy success in a point-to-point at Borris House on his second attempts and makes debut for the yard. He is a half-brother to a couple of winners and the five-year-old is capable of a bold bid.
WIN: IORANGI DE L'ISLE
RACING & SPORTS SELECTIONS
RACE 1: HEROSS DU SEUIL
RACE 2: FRINGILL DIKE
RACE 3: RECODED
RACE 4: FIZZLE ROCK
RACE 5: COURT DREAMING
RACE 6: VOCAL DUKE
RACE 7: MASSINI MAN
RACE 8: IORANGI DE L'ISLE