Carlisle Sunday Preview - 30/10/22

The first event of the afternoon at the northern based track is the Novices' Hurdle over 2m4f and we are giving a chance to Cedar Row for Jonjo O'Neill.

Third on PTP debut at Bangor back in March, he then went to Tranwell over 2m and got off the mark in his second PTP, beating second by 23 lengths.

A horse with bundles of potential that has been stepped up to 2m4f and his pedigree suggests he will get every yard of it.

Next up is the Novices' Limited Handicap Chase over 2m1f and although the favourite Iron Bridge will be tough to beat, Grey Skies looks the value.

A very consistent horse last season for the inform trainer Donald McCain over hurdles, making his debut in January at Exeter when winning nicely over 2m by six lengths.

He made it back to back wins on heavy ground at Kelso beating the market rival by seven lengths and when last seen he bumped into a nice type in Thunder Rock for Olly Murphy at Ayr when stepping up to 2m4f.

A horse that acts on soft conditions so the ground is no issue and now chasing could improve further.

The feature race at Carlisle on the afternoon is the Listed Colin Parker Memorial Intermediate Chase over 2m4f and we are siding with the potentially smart Bear Ghylls.

A superb horse for the Nicky Martin yard over the last few seasons, he made his debut in a bumper back in March 2020 when beating the talented Guard Your Dreams by 19 lengths.

Sent hurdling in October 2020, he made a good start at Lingfield when winning easily and then at Ffos Las next time out he made it 3/3 seeing off Gowel Road under a penalty.

Sent into Handicap company at Exeter he was a five length winner and off the back of that was moved massively up in grade to contest the Grade One Ballymore Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham festival.

Running a superb race at the 2021 festival he was fourth behind Bob Olinger, Gaillard Du Mesnil and Bravemansgame.

Picking up a setback since then he has not been seen and although going novice chasing a year later than planned, he looks set to have a big season.

Another nice event on the card is the 2m4f Handicap Hurdle and No Risk At All has the scope to improve on his mark of 137 and take this event.

Winning back to back bumpers two seasons ago, the latter in Listed company at Newbury with the form of the race being one of the strongest bumpers of the season.

Sent hurdling last term, he racked up multiple seconds starting at Chepstow in November, then at Newbury behind the Grade One winner Jonbon and finally behind the progressive Barrichello at Warwick.

Being extremely well handicapped off a mark of 127 he got off the mark for his hurdling career when taking a valuable handicap Ascot by nine lengths.

Bumped up 10lb for that win he was sent into Grade One company at Aintree's Grand National meeting and finished sixth of 12 behind Three Stripe Life in the Mersey Novices' Hurdle.

Back into a handicap off 137, he should go close.

The penultimate event of the afternoon on Sunday from Carlisle is the 3m2f Handicap Chase and at a big price Mount Melleray could cause an upset.

Very consistent last term since switching to Alison Hamilton, making his debut for the yard in January at Newcastle when fourth in a Maiden Hurdle over 2m4 1/2f and then next time out over the same trip at Ayr was an unlucky loser going down by a short head on heavy ground.

Sent chasing in February he made a great first attempt at the bigger obstacles when a short head second to Houston Texas over C&D giving weight away.

He takes on that horse again on better terms and more than double the price he looks the value in the field.

The final event is the 2m1f bumper and the horse that caught the eye was the Samuel Drinkwater trained Blue Ridge Hill who has some nice form in the book.

A horse with a very shoddy PTP record, he made up for that on seasonal debut over course and distance on rules debut when a good second to a potentially smart recruit for Jonjo O'Neill in Saint Davy.

Danny Burton takes the ride again and he could go one better.