Two meetings to get our teeth into this evening, and the bulk of the work is at Carlisle. It is one of those nights where the card is short on numbers but not on interest, with a couple of genuine bankers up north and a 50/1 shot at Naas for those who like a flutter on the outside of the draw.
Carlisle is where we are spending most of our staking. The early part of the card leans on prices, but the meat of it comes after five o’clock. Wine Dark Sea is the one we are happiest about. He won with plenty in hand at Ascot last time and the form behind that has been working out, so a repeat over this 12f on good ground should see him go close. He is a horse heading the right way and there looks more to come. That goes in as our strongest play of the evening.
Earlier on the card, Priapos profiles as the standout in his sprint handicap and the case is a simple one. He bolted up over course and distance last time, the yard knows the way to the Carlisle winner’s enclosure, and the cheekpieces go on for the first time tonight. We are also chancing Wetsand at a bigger price. She has been running better than the bare placings suggest, caught in trouble and beaten by horses who went on to win, and a low draw over 7-8f on quick ground plays right to her strengths.
Over at Naas, Amrum is the one we want on side. He still looks well treated despite winning last time, which is the whole point. He battled back to score at Gowran, the Lyons yard goes well round here, and stamina is firmly in his corner. For the brave, Reinforce is the each-way poke in the big sprint. His recent times have been nudging back in the right direction and Ryan goes well at Naas. The long absence and wide draw are real risks, but at 50/1 they are risks worth taking.
Yesterday gave us a little to hold onto without the win we wanted, Hint Of Humour filling a place at 5.5 from five runners. The board has been quiet, so a card with two we are this confident about is a welcome change of pace. Wine Dark Sea is the one to build the evening around.