Runner in the bumper at Carlisle on Sunday

Well, there are two bumpers on the card - one for mares only, and Rob Bewley's Bushmill Boy makes his seasonal debut in the second of these, the last race on the card.

The field is made up of lightly raced sorts and complete newcomers. So fairly standard fare for a bumper at this stage of the season. Of those who have run, Ann Hamilton's Bavington Bob would appear to have the best form which he displayed when 4th over course and distance at the start of November to Chuvelo. None of those, including 2nd and 3rd, to have raced since have made any impression so there may be reasons to be cautious about the form.

Venetia Williams' ex-Irish Brave Seasca is one of a quartet of horses sent on the long trek up North from her Hertfordshire yard but he would need to show massive improvement, even after the wind operation to be involved here.
Brother Ali's Empty Quarter was 4th on debut in May, and with the stable is in better form now the Pivotal gelding could well show improvement to be in contention.

Now we have a trio of interesting sorts. McCain's Irish Pointer Mackenburg was a £90,000 Cheltenham Sale purchase in April this year while the booking of Paddy Brennan for the Crawford Bros.' The Mayne Man attracts attention. This gelding was a €22k sales purchase in August 2018, and this shrewd outfit have been known to send over the odd winner or 5 in the last few seasons.

But top of the list in sales purchase terms is Offtheshoulder, acquired for £110,000 at Cheltenham in February 2019. Winner of an Irish Point a few days earlier, the runner up Oscar Robertson won a novice hurdle at Wetherby earlier this season. Wears a time tongue tie. Trained by Lucinda.

Bushmill Boy has furnished into an attractive, athletic gelding who covers a fair amount of ground. He has been working well with his stable mates in recent weeks, and fingers crossed we hope he can be competitive here. Owner's son Callum Bewley is in the saddle, and best of luck to the Bewley family.

Bushmill Boy (Kingy)