Tommy looks razor-sharp in Carlisle battle
Tommy’s Oscar (2.35) can produce a red carpet display on Colin Parker day at Carlisle.
Classy Mister Fogpatches has a clear chance in hot Cork National
Plenty of Scots will be in Cumbria for one of the best early-season meetings of the Jumps campaign.
There is some terrific action and hopes are high that Tommy’s Oscar can maintain his rise up the ranks after a cracking 2020/21 season.
Ann Hamilton’s charge won four times after switching from Colin Bowe in Ireland and ran an excellent third in the Scottish Champion Hurdle behind Milkwood.
Tommy’s Oscar is now maturing and began this season with a good second at Wetherby a couple of weeks ago.
That should have put him spot on for this mission and hopefully he’ll get the job done under Danny McMenamin.
Carlisle’s card also sees the return of one of Scotland’s biggest jumping hopes of the season in the shape of Ahoy Senor.
Lucinda Russell’s star set tongues wagging with a magnificent showing at Aintree in the spring.
Ahoy Senor was unfancied in the market, yet absolutely bolted up from the likes of Bravemansgame in the Grade 1 Sefton Hurdle.
Russell has wasted no time in sending the six-year-old over fences and every one of us hopes he takes high rank in the novice chase division.
In fairness, if he claims this event first time out, he’ll already be there because the competition is fierce.
Kim Bailey won this race last season with Imperial
Aura and ESPOIR DE
ROMAY (2.00) sets a high standard for Ahoy to match.
Fiddlerontheroof and
Silver Hallmark are also classy and pose a threat for their powerful connections.
In time, Ahoy might be the best of these and, if he wins, no-one will shout louder in delight than me.
But you can’t bet with your heart and, with the benefit of previous fencing experience, Bailey’s yak might hold the edge on this occasion. I sincerely hope I’m wrong.
HILL SIXTEEN (3.10) has joined the Sandy Thomson squad after leaving Nigel Twiston-Davies and this old boat is ideal for a Carlisle slog. Today’s rival Christmas in April was too sharp for him in the summer around Newton Abbot but this is a different environment.
Juge Et
Parti is another excellent rival who has won the last twice but summer at Perth and winter in Cumbria aren’t the same.
It’s worth taking a chance that Sandy can work his magic with the outstanding Ryan Mania on board, although I accept that he might still be a work in progress.
One to note is HARPER’S BROOK (11.50) in the opener. Ben Pauling usually does well when sending them up here.
Jumpers go at Huntingdon and CROOKS PEAK (3.25) is worthy of consideration with Team Skelton starting to fire.
DON HERBAGER (12.45) is a typically dangerous Venetia Williams type in the handicap chase down at Lingfield.
MISTER FOGPATCHES (3.00) has developed into a top stayer so Pat Fahy’s star can bag the Cork Grand National.