12:35 Carlisle

Leg 1 Selections: Russian Virtue, Jipekaa Machin

RUSSIAN VIRTUE has excelled for this stable over the last twelve months, winning seven of his last 12 starts, and was last seen scoring over C&D in a tougher race. A 4Ib rise seems lenient, given runner-up has won since, so the top-weight has standout claims. JIPEKAA MACHIN should take a step forward from his return sixth and has to be included in case an upset happens. 

13:05 Carlisle

Leg 2 Selections: Valleyview Tommy, Rob Roy Macgregor

Sandy Thomson should dominate the second race on the card with two excellent chances, in which it is hard to split them. VALLEYVIEW TOMMY displayed promise when a keeping-on third on stable/hurdle debut at Kelso and is open to improvement over this longer distance. His stablemate, ROB ROY MACGREGOR, won a bumper here impressively in March and shaped well over an inadequate trip when fourth on his recent Kelso hurdle debut. He should do well. 

13:35 Carlisle

Leg 3 Selections: Flaubert, Wal Buck’s

Donald McCain has a good strike rate at this course and his debutant, FLAUBERT, who is related to several winners and won an Irish point-to-point, could be ready to make a serious impact. WAL BUCK’S was given a nice introduction here in a bumper last month when fifth and should do better now that his attention is switched to hurdles. He is preferred to Marty Mcfly, who very disappointing last time out. 

14:10 Carlisle

Leg 4 Selections: Barbados Buck’s, Court Dreaming, Palm Beach

BARBADOS BUCK’S previously posted some good efforts for Paul Nicholls, placing multiple times off higher marks, and is entitled to be better from his return fourth. COURT DREAMING likes it here and this C&D winner cannot be dismissed now that he’s back on the same mark as when last successful, which coincidentally came at this course. PALM BEACH has to compete from out of the handicap but is a course winner and has undergone a wind operation since last seen. 

14:45 Carlisle

Leg 5 Selections: Hostile Hotelier

With a lot of these having something to prove at present, this is a golden opportunity for the top-weight HOSTILE HOTELIER to supplement his recent Hexham success with victory here. The handicapper has raised his mark 5Ib, but he won with a lot in hand and his rider can take off 3Ib, which technically means he’s only 2Ib higher. Great chance. 

15:20 Carlsle

Leg 6 Selections: Sea God, Malicash

SEA GOD has the potential to take a higher rank given he’s related to plenty of top-class horses, including Celestial Gold, and bolted up in his Irish point in March. He has since joined a very good Irish handler and could prove impossible to beat. I like his chances. MALICASH ran to a decent level when third on debut at Kelso and should be able to build on that, so he’s another to consider.