Reggae Runner can find his rhythm again in Carlisle handicap

Reggae Runner can get back to winning ways, having had his sights lowered for the Watch Racing TV Now Handicap at Carlisle.

Mark Johnston’s three-yearold was unraced last year, but got off the mark at the third time of asking at Lingfield in Februar y. Making his handicap debut from a mark of 82 in a decent contest at Musselburgh in April, he was caught in the final strides by Coolagh Forest.

That winner has subsequently defied a 4lb rise to win by six lengths and is now 16lb higher than when beating Reggae Runner. That suggests Johnston’s lightly-raced colt faced a very stiff task, while it is easy to forgive his next start because i t c a me j u s t s i x d ay s a f t e r Musselburgh.

L a s t t i me o u t , h e f a i l e d to f i g u r e i n t h e S i l ve r B owl a t Haydock. But that was a stiff ask, and the form looks hot, with Awe coming out and winning at the weekend.

I n a s mal l e r f i e l d , Re g g a e Runner may rever t to tr ying to dominate.

Jackhammer has been raised 7lb for winning in great style at the Cumbrian track on his latest visit, but still lo oks to hold strong claims in the second division of the Racing TV Handicap.

Dianne Sayer’s five-year-old appreciated the heavy ground that day, and there is likely to be a decent cut in it again.

M o g h r a m c a n g e t o f f t h e mark at the third attempt in the Sorvio Insurance Brokers Maiden Stakes at Salisbury.

Marcus Tregoning’s three - year-old colt stepped up considerably on his debut on this course in April to finish second to Great Bear at Bath last month. Moghram can reap the benefit of those two runs by getting his head in front.

David Menuisier has had his team in fine form of late, and Maroon B ells can do her bit by winning the Scouting For Girls - Live At thirskraces Friday 16th August Handicap at the North Yorkshire track.

Maroon Bells failed to trouble the judge in her first three starts but looked transformed when returning from a 224d ay a b s e n c e wh e n t h i r d t o Nasee on her handicap debut at Yarmouth last month.

D e s p i t e t h a t r e s p e c t a b l e effor t, the handicapp er has dropped her 1lb, so she is certainly worth a second look in this moderate contest.

Mr Orange has been a grand ser vant to connections, and t h e P a u l M i d g l e y - t r a i n e d sprinter could be the answer to the Weatherbys VAT Ser vices Handicap.

The six-year-old is a regular at nor thern tracks, par ticularly in Yorkshire, and rarely runs a bad race. It could well be his turn again to get on the scoresheet in this six-furlong h e a t , a f te r k n o c k i n g o n t h e door in three runs this year following his winter break.

Age Of Wisdom showed a winter campaign did him no mark when he struck at Goodwood on his first race on the Flat since September.

Trainer Gar y Moore keeps the six-year- old to this co de for the Injured Jockeys Fund Handicap at Lingfield, and a similar result is forecast.

Meanwhile, Charlie Appleby favours the Arlington Million as a p ossible next target for Old Persian instead of tr ying to secure back-to-back victories at Royal Ascot.

The Newmarket trainer may aim Old Persian at the Grade One prize in Illinois on August 10 rather than bidding to follow up last year’s King Edward VII Stakes victory in either the P r i n c e O f Wa l e s’s o r H a r d - wicke Stakes.

Appleby said: “He has won around Ascot and, because he was a winner at the meeting last year, you can’t completely rule it out, but I think we will end up missing Ascot.