Carlisle trio on Saturday

Three runners at Carlisle's traditional Easter Saturday card, with the ground likely to ride faster than the overnight going advice of good to soft.

We start off with Kenny Lynn's Our Percy in the novice hurdle at 2.48 over an extended 2m 3f.
The market is headed by a couple of classy novices in Wetlands and Karl Philippe.
Intrigued by the name we googled away and apparently.....

• Philippe Karl, former Ecuyer of the famous Cadre Noir de Saumur in France, is today one of the leading figures in the Art of Classical Riding.
  An outspoken critic of coercive training methods, he offers any motivated rider a classical alternative based on understanding, competence and respect for the horse

Top man.

Our Percy makes a relatively quick reappearance following his hurdling debut at Hexham a couple of Thursdays back. After jumping well for most of the race, Our Percy was caught for a turn of foot slightly after 2 out so being up in trip here should suit.
Callum Bewley is again in the saddle and we'd be looking for a nice run although his future will no doubt lie in handicaps.

The magnitude of Dali Mail's attempt to give prolific Ayr chase winner Ardera Cross 19lb last time was emphasised when that horse won again - raised 3lb - over course and distance a couple of weeks later. For that runner up effort, our gelding has been raised 2lb to OR132. Gee, thanks.
Dali Mail lines up against 6 opponents in the 2 mile Class 3 handicap chase at 3.23.

You've got to go back a couple of years to find Eamon An Cnoic's last chase victory but Pipe's gelding was in fine form over hurdles in February. He's been dropped to OR125 and after running in the Paddy Power Plate at Cheltenham takes a drop in class here.
Rose's Some Reign is back from a spell off, last having run the Castleford Chase at Wetherby in December. But he has run well fresh in the past.
Mint Gold will be more suited by this 2 mile trip and faster ground than last time, and was showing progressive chasing form previously.
Licklighter looks as if he is best at further but Laura Morgan has done remarkably well with acquisitions from other stables and his two runs since joining that yard last summer have been his best form. Off for 9 months but yard can prepare them......

Another tough handicap for Dali Mail and this will be the fastest ground he has encountered. We hope he can continue his improving form this season and give a thrill to Nicola and John Mackin. Callum Bewley rides.

And lastly, in the closing race (5.40pm) on the card Bonny Houxty looks to build on her first race of the season in the Amateur Riders handicap hurdle over 2m 3f.
It's been a long 3 months on the sidelines for amateur riders and our stable amateur Connor Wood is looking forward to getting back in the saddle on the racecourse. Connor has done plenty of work at home but will undoubtedly come on for the run......

Foster'sisland has been in fine form this Spring but takes a step up in trip here. He has shown up well (two wins, one third) over 2 miles. Conversely Lissen To The Lady's improved form - albeit at a modest level - has been over further.
John Dixon's veteran Carlisle specialist Pistol is fairly dropping down the weights and might just prefer more cut in the ground but could be the one staying on at the finish.

Top of the ground horse If Karl Berg's Did and the novice Bobby Bow are another two who could be contesting the finish.

Bonny Houxty has run well over course and distance before but the drying ground might not be in her favour.
Still, we'll have a go and good luck to owner-breeders Bill and Carol Aitchison

Promising run from Shoeshine Boy at Hexham, Wednesday

On the day, the ground at Hexham had dried out enough to be unsuitable for Stainsby Girl so she was a non.

However, Shoeshine Boy ran in the bumper and turned in a pleasing performance in finishing 5th beaten just over 10 lengths. This was a another step forward from his debut run at Musselburgh.
The leaders set a steady pace and Shoeshine Boy raced a bit freely just in behind, but couldn't quicken enough to go with the leaders 2 furlongs out. That said, he kept on nicely in the final furlong and finished full of running.

He's already been schooled over hurdles and you can expect to see our lad in a novice hurdle before summer.