Carlisle, Great Leighs and Thurles

the Sunday before Christmas was originally intended to be a free day, but there are now three low-level meetings to keep the betting turnover flowing, over jumps at Carlisle and Thurles in Ireland and on the flat at Great Leighs. At Carlisle, the track has survived an early-morning inspection, but the going will be very testing. The most inteesting race is the opening novice case at 13.50 CET, with several potentially useful novices in opposition. Last-time-out winners Role On (Nicky Richards/ Rose Dobbin) and Skippers Brig (Len Lungo/ Wilson Renwick) make obvious appeal, but are not certain to be able to give the weight to Coe (Graham Lee) and Ragador (Shane Byrne), two of Sue Smith´s three runners, while Netherly (Donald McCain/ Brian Harding) is coming off a 20 months break but would be a huge danger on his old form. The 3 1/4 miles of the handicap case at 14.55 will take some getting, but Royal Mackintosh (Alan Mactaggart/ Brian Harding) could be the answer, while Rosie a ll Over (DOnald McCain/ Graham Lee) can complete a hat-trick in the mares handicap chase at 15.25. At Thurles there are maximum fields in most races, the exception being the listed hurdle race at 14.05, which has a disappointing turnout with only 4 runners. In theory this should be between last-time-out winners Solwhit (Charlie Byrnes/ Davy Russell) and Ninetieth Minute (Tom Taaffe/ Paddy Flood). Assuming that yesterday´s winner Newbay Prop does not turn out again, then the handicap hurdle at 16.00 looks very open, but the relatively unexposed Don´t Rush It (Edward O´Grady/ Andrew McNamara) and Saoirse´s Chrstnut (Charlie Byrnes/ Emmett Mullins) could be involved. Main event at Great Leighs is the class 2 mile handicap at 126.50. Flipando (David Barron/ Jamie Spencer) is long overdue a win and ran well from an outside draw at Lingfield recently; he needs everything to fall int place, but today could be the day, while Red Somerset (Ron Hodges/ Marc Geran) and Mister New York (Noel Chance/ Jim Crowley) look the best alternatives. Matsunosuke (Barnie Coogan/ Tom Queally) is another one who finds it hard to win at present, but he can finally get his head in front in the 6 furlongs handicap at 17.20