Carlisle Saturday

1.30 Betway Handicap 1m 3f 39yd

Opportunity stands out here having done excellent late work when a close third at Ascot last time, his first outing since flopping in the King Edward VII Stakes at the track last June. That was his only start in handicaps and he looks very fairly treated given the Ascot contest didn’t unwind ideally for him. If he can settle a little better here, he could prove a class apart.

In terms of dangers, Star Harbour may be overlooked. He didn’t quite see it out after travelling best in a ladies’ race at Leopardstown last time and a slight drop in trip will suit in a well-run race. On top of that, a few defeats this season has seen the handicapper drop him to a career-low mark of 86, 10lb below his lowest winning mark and 19lb below his peak IHRB rating. Ado McGuinness doesn’t run too many here, but places his horses to good effect.

2.00 Betway Reverence Handicap 5f 182yd

A race that recalls Eric Alston’s popular speedster, who won the Temple Stakes, Nunthorpe and Sprint Cup two decades ago. Brosay and Dark Cloud Rising will be winning handicaps this summer but have a little to prove in this contest. Brosay may benefit from the switch of headgear to cheekpieces having raced a bit too freely last time but he’s running his races back-to-front at the moment and was at his best last season when finishing strongly from off the pace.

I’ll watch the pair with a view to next time, but the one who appeals most here is Havana Rum who saves his best efforts for turning tracks and is best judged on an excellent second at Pontefract rather than a flatter effort at Doncaster last time.

A winner at Catterick, Pontefract and Chelmsford, he’s clearly at home around a bend and it’s to be hoped that he’s as happy right-handed as the other way around. He finished best at Pontefract despite having to go wide and my biggest worry is that a positive draw may lead him into traffic problems here but expect him to stay on strongly in the latter stages and he’s got a chance of winning if he can plot a clear path in the straight.

2.33 Betway Achilles Stakes (Listed) 5f

Redorange looks capable of making the jump from handicapper to blacktype performer after an easy win at Windsor last time. A big eyecatcher at York on his return when finishing full of running after a luckless passage, Redorange showed he was unlucky when justifying favouritism last time.

He was largely progressive as a three-year-old, finishing third in the Palace of Holyroodhouse Stakes at Royal Ascot when drawn on the wrong side of the track (won his ‘race’ by four lengths) before creditable efforts at glorious Goodwood and in a listed race in France before finishing the season on a quieter note.

Redorange has shown this term that he remains progressive at the minimum trip and he can prove the point by scoring here.

3.10 Betway Lester Piggott Fillies’ Stakes (Group 3) 1m 3f 39yd

Estrange has belatedly shown herself as good on quick turf as we’ve always known she was in the mud, but I still feel that she is more likely to show her vulnerability on firmer ground, and repeated attempts on a fast surface may not help in that regard. Coedana has a way to go to match the favourite’s achievements but comes here on the back of a career best and one which was all the more meritorious as she did her best running late against a pace bias in the Daisy Warwick Stakes at Goodwood four weeks ago.

That second to Tattycoram is worth marking up in the circumstances and while Crepe Suzette was also inconvenienced by the modest gallop there, she looks held by Coedana as the pair meet again. Ed Bethell has had three winners from just seven runners in the last week or so, and this looks a good time to catch the stable’s runners.

3.45 Betway Silver Bowl Handicap 7f 173yd

Despite its stiff finish, Carlisle tends to favour front runners over this trip, at least when the ground is not testing, and early speed trumps draw, with high and low numbers getting more winners than those squeezed in the middle.

Blue Courvoisier fared best of those to race on the strong pace when a three-length fourth of 11 behind Outback at Ascot last time and had shaped equally well when placed at Newmarket on his return.

This track will suit him forward-going style better and while I’d like to see him settle a little better in his races, the fact that he can race freely and keep galloping to the line is commendable and likely to gain him some reward in a competitive handicap here. Saffie Osborne takes over in the saddle and perhaps she can enable the son of Sea The Stars to save a bit for the finish.

Beverley Saturday

2.48 Beverley Two Year Old Trophy EBF Conditions Stakes 5f

Matteo scorched the turf here on debut and has the best of the draw so isn’t easily opposed, but I really liked the way Clash Of Hearts shaped on his debut in what is a traditionally hot York novice last month and think Adrian Keatley’s juvenile can progress enough to win a race of this nature.

The form of the York race hasn’t really been tested yet, but it looked competitive at the time and frequently unearths future Pattern performers. Clash Of Hearts was arguably pick of the paddock and travelled strongly amidst greenness, eventually being promoted to second behind Persian Spring.

He’s a Mehmas half-brother to Symbol Of Strength, who raced for Keatley and similar owners, finishing third in the Gimcrack before winning the Group 3 Sirenia Stakes a couple of years ago. He’s got the looks, the pedigree and the ability to make his mark at a higher level, and looks the value call here.

Recommended

Havana Rum 2.00 Carlisle – 1pt e/w @ 14/1 (Sky Bet 5 places; general – 4 places)

Redorange 2.33 Carlisle – 2pts win @ 3/1 (general)

Clash Of Hearts 2.48 Beverley – 1pt win @ 9/1 (general)

Coedana 3.10 Carlisle – 1pt e/w @ 12/1 (general)

Blue Courvoisier 3.45 Carlisle – 1pt e/w @ 16/1 (Hills; 14/1 Bet365 – 5 places)