Historic races at Carlisle

Much better racing today and in particular at Carlisle, which stages its best card of the flat season, including the historic Carlisle Bell and Cumberland Plate, races going back to the 16th century. Although they are now only class 4 handicaps, over a mile and eleven furlongs respectively, they carry very good prize-money for this grade and have attracted very competitive fields. The former event at 16.35 CET could go to Ginger Jack (Keith Dalgleish/ Phillip Maiin), whose trainer usually does well here; he was only 6th in this last year, but won nicely last time at Thirsk. Trinity Star (Michael Dods/ Paiul Mulrennan), third that day and now 5 lbs better off, and the lightly-raced Art Obsession (David Barron/ Graham Gibbons) are two of the many dangers. The Plate at 17.45 looks even trickier, but German-bred Noble Alan (Nicky Richards/ Ian Brennan) who won it last year at the age of 11, tries again and is better handicapped this time. However Comedy King (Luca Cumani/ Adam Kirby) and the Monsun gelding Modernism (Mark Johnston/ Tony Hamilton) look very threatening. The best race of the day is the listed race for 3yo fillies at 17.10 and the interesting one here is Letters of Note (Michael O´Callaghan/ Andrea Atzeni), the first runner in England for this young Irish trainer. The filly was 6th last time in the German 1,000 Guineas; the trainer was very disappointed when it started to rain as she dislikes soft ground, but she will find conditions to her liking here.

The Naas Oaks Trial at 20.30 is another listed race for 3yo fillies over a slightly longer trip. Runners from top Irish stables line up and we give slight preference to Variable (Dermot Weld/ Pat Smullen).

There is also a historic race at Salisbury this afternoon, another one of England´s oldest racecourses. This is the Bibury Cup, a 3yo handicap over 1 1/2 miles at 16.45. Most of the runners are trying this trip for the first time and we select Simple Verse (Ralph Beckett/ Oisin Murphy) who looks certain to stay the distance. The mile handicap here at 17.55 is anotjher good race, with Lightning Spear (Olly Stevens/ Murphy) carrying top weight; the 4yo ran once at two and once at 3, winning both times, and has also won his only start this year. He could be much better than a handicapper, but is meeting better opposition this time and we are not sure that he can concede the weight to another lightly-raced 4yo Man of Harlech (Andrew Balding/ David Probert).