Johnson can help to land a Pearl of a win
Irish trainer John McConnell looks to be hatching a plot in this afternoon’s novice hurdle at Carlisle with Pearl Of The West.
It’s success may depend on champion jockey Richard Johnson being able to ride at 10 stone – 2lb below his lowest weight this season.
With the four-yearold and fillies’ allowances, Pearl Of The West races off 10 stone, getting 20lb from the top one, Contre Tous.
The form of her closeup fourth to Lord Napier, at Ludlow, was validated on Friday, when that winner bolted up at Sedgefield, under a penalty.
Another day another dollar sums up the chance of Pc Dixon at Carlisle this afternoon, after he missed a winning chance last Sunday under Johnson.
Strictly on the figures, last-time winner Our Lucas has an edge on the selection, following their running at Musselburgh behind Rockliffe last month.
However, it was a soft race that Our Lucas won at Ayr, and as a five-year-old Pc Dixon is open to more improvement now that the duck is broken.
Tom Symonds takes Don Bersy to Carlisle from Herefordshire for the Class 3 handicap, and the lightly-raced five-year-old has a fine chance.
His five-length second at Kempton to Nicky Henderson’s Jenkins, who has gone in again in a Grade 3 at Ascot, looks solid.
SELECTIONS
Nap – Pearl Of The West (Carlisle 2.50).
Double – Pc Dixon (Carlisle 2.15).
Treble – Don Bersy (Carlisle 4.35).
LATE WIRE
Rebecca Curtis should hit the target with Sunset Showdown at Ascot. He was seven lengths ahead of Piton Pete at Hereford, and that rival has won twice easily since.
Selection
Sunset Showdown (Ascot 2.0).