Carlisle - Mon 18 May 2026
Crownbreaker is the only contender with experience in the field after her third at Newmarket a few weeks ago and she will be looking to put that to good use. However, WILD BLOSSOM changed hands for 300,000gns at the Craven Breeze-Up sale last month and his dam is a half-sister to Group 1 winner Bayside Boy. The Karl Burke team certainly know how to ready one and she could make an instant impression. Watch the market vibes behind fellow newcomer Miss Havisham, who cost a pretty penny herself.
Blue Lakota only found one too good over this trip at Southwell on his most recent start and should go well, although the obvious concern would be the fact he is 0-6 on turf. Keldeo is a player based on her Catterick success two starts ago, but the one who appeals most is course winner HURT YOU NEVER. Adrian Nicholls' mare showed more when third in this grade at Ripon recently and could capitalise on a 2lb lower figure.
It's hard to get away from the hat-trick seeking RAFT UP, who went in by a neck at Newcastle on his latest outing. Harriet Bethell's gelding continues to go from strength to strength at present and could record his second victory on the grass. Magic Boy signed off his three-year-old campaign with victory over 7f at Redcar in November and has to be respected on his return. Of the remainder, Impressor makes the most appeal.
CASCADE HALL proved to be too tough to overhaul when he made all at Ayr 13 days ago and must have every chance of following up off a still handy mark in comparison to his peak ratings. The hat-trick seeking Charlie Darling has hit a rich vein of form on the all-weather and can also go close if reverting to turf doesn't cause any issues. Swinging London and Ashdown Forest are closely matched based on their recent encounter at Pontefract and are the pick of the rest.
WEZZEER looks progressive enough to cope with a 7lb penalty after readily justifying favouritism at Southwell last month. The son of Sioux Nation, a 280,000gns yearling, is bred to appreciate stepping up in trip and has more to offer. Lunar Melody stepped forward from her introduction over 6f here to fill the runner-up berth in a Doncaster maiden 23 days ago. The Wathnan-owned filly merits close inspection, while Blue Boy Junior is the pick of the rest.
None of these are overly convincing as they all seek an elusive first career win. The likes of Mereside Princess, Smoker Bellamy and Thankfully Simmy have the ability to figure prominently if they are on a going day and warrant consideration. However, slender preference is for COBALT COMET in the hope that his improved effort to finish third at Southwell wan't just a flash in the pan and the low-mileage three-year-old can improve further now he switches to turf.
VINCE LE PRINCE has been threatening to exploit a handy mark for a while and he won't need to find much to get back to winning ways in this company. This Farh won over 7f on his penultimate start and is dangerous to rule out off 3lb higher. He found 6f too at Leicester too sharp last time and he can do better back over this trip. Judicature and Native Instinct complete the shortlist.
This is an excellent little race with the combined sales prices of the three newcomers not far off a £1m. They all have good pedigrees, really good connections and obvious claims, Miss Havisham is the most expensive, Wild Blossom is from the yard that won the race last year and Calef is a half-sister to Group winner by excellent speed sire Blue Point. The market is going to be the best guide to their chances but they all have to beat CROWNBREAKER. She cost more than all of them at 550,000 guineas and ran with real promise on her debut.
Like most sprint handicaps this is very tricky. It may be worth taking a chance that BLUE LAKOTA can transfer his all-weather form to the turf because he is very well handicapped if he does. Dc Cogent is a reliable alternative given that he ran to form switched to the grass last time and has been consistent on the all-weather. Fierce may be a bit of value. He was just as good on turf in 2025 and ran well on the all-weather off a falling mark on his reappearance after a short-break.
RAFT UP did well to score at Newcastle last time pulling hard off the characteristic slow early pace. Hopefully they will go a better gallop here and he can improve and complete his hat-trick. Counting Cards had been in good order on the all-weather before needing the run last time and has equivalent turf form back in 2024 so is entitled to come on from that reappearance run and threaten. Fan Mail is ultra-consistent and gets cheekpieces to try to eke out a little improvement and could also contend.
This looks a well-contested staying race with plenty boasting decent claims. Most reliable of them is probably SWINGING LONDON. He scored on the all-weather last time having run well on the turf on his penultimate start and is still competitively weighted. As Fast As Wind looks a danger having transferred good hurdles form to the Flat ast time at Musselburgh and Cascade Hall could be well handicapped having got loose in front an bolted-up by 10 lengths last time.
A good novice that may got to LUNAR MELODY, a big filly that ran well on her debut despite being green and one that is open to lots of improvement. Wezzeer is an obvious danger coming from a top yard and having run well both starts but he is more exposed. At a bit better price Blue Boy Junior could run well having been given a considerate ride on his debut and Dark Sovereign has run well both starts and should contend again.
This is a poor handicap with most of the field running badly last time. The most notable exception is COBALT COMET who improved on his novice form on his handicap debut and may have been found an opportunity to get off the mark here. Smoker Bellamy is a probable danger having run well in an all-weather handicap on his penultimate start and made too much use of up to 10f last time. He gets cheekpieces and a market move would be significant. Hatamoto may be third best given three fair efforts, the latest on his seasonal debut, and being first-time in a handicap.
A decent handicap to close the card. Preference is for NATIVE INSTINCT who was well backed last time and only went down by a length. He could gain compensation at the expense of the consistent Vince Le Prince who has been second in three of his last four starts. This Farh might be third best returned to 7f after being made too much use of down in trip last time. Black Storm is worth watching in the market on his second start since a wind operation.
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