Carlisle - Monday 8th June 2026
Pop Star bounced back to form when returning to winning ways over 5f here on his most recent outing and is bound to mount a bold bid, but it may pay to side with SURPRISED. Bryan Smart's filly showed more when finishing a creditable third over track and trip last month and could take advantage of an unchanged mark. Of the remainder, Harry's Halo makes most appeal.
Deputy Vice shaped with lots of promise when making the frame on his introduction at Chester and has to be taken seriously with that experience under his belt. However, LIGHT OF DAWN changed hands for 625,000 euros and has plenty of speed in her pedigree. The daughter of Showcasing looks to have found a good opportunity to get off the mark at the first time of asking. Capilano can beat Caeruleus home for third.
PEARL outran her odds of 20/1 when finishing two places in front of Always Blue in third on debut at York last month and is likely to take a step forward from that effort. If improving as expected, the daughter of Le Havre will prove a tough nut to crack. Foxy Night finished an encouraging fourth over 7f at Kempton and, with this extra furlong likely to suit, she has to be respected. Marhayb looks next best.
LANARRA appreciated a drop back in trip when causing a big surprise at Newcastle two starts ago. The daughter of Far Above proved it wasn't a fluke when almost making it a double when switched to turf at Catterick and the betting market should take her chances more seriously on this occasion. Battenburg Belle has been knocking on the door since also returning to 6f and is expected to be in the mix, along with Auspicious.
In a contest lacking much depth on paper, a chance is taken with handicap debutant MUSIC ACADEMY. Ralph Beckett's filly showed promise on her second start when third at Kempton and a repeat of that effort in first-time blinkers may well suffice. Blufferonthebus is capable of being in the mix after her latest third at Catterick, while Emery Down heads the remainder.
STAR CAST was unable to complete the hat-trick when trying an extended 1m4f at Musselburgh. However, the drop in trip is unlikely to be an inconvenience for Gemma Tutty's filly, who can return to winning ways. Krissy had a valid excuse when underperforming at Thirsk due to stumbling at the start and the five-year-old, who had been in excellent form prior, is expected to leave that effort behind. Amancio completes the shortlist.
ALBEYOURS made a promising return to action when third at Doncaster last month and the handicapper may well have been kind to drop her 1lb for that display. Conditions are very much in her favour and she can prove too strong for the opposition. Ideal Guest hit the frame at Catterick on his first run of the year and is likely to enter calculations. Others to note are Rwenearlytheredad and Orbital Chime.
POP STAR hit the line well when winning well over 5f here last time and, with stamina for this trip and ability to handle soft ground not in question, she should again go well, making her the most likely winner despite a 5lb higher mark. Top weight Surprised produced her best handicap effort so far when third over C&D last time and she rates the most likely danger, although Harry's Halo handles these conditions well, ran well at Doncaster last time and is 1lb below his last win mark, so needs considering too.
Three promising once-raced juveniles are opposed with the newcomer LIGHT OF DAWN, who cost a lot of money at the breeze-ups, hails from a yard that introduces its better juveniles at this course, and is related to lots of smart winners. She can make a winning debut. Deputy Vice looks the danger, following a nice debut when third at Chester, while Capilano, third at Newcastle first time, is taken to confirm that form with Caeruleus who finished fourth.
A great opportunity for PEARL, who didn't make the track at two or three but showed up really well in a hot York novice against males on her belated debut at the Dante meeting. A sister to French 1,000 Guineas/Oaks winner Avenir Certain, any progress on that initial effort should see her off the mark. Always Blue looks the danger but needs to settle, with Marhayb a likely improver on what was just an okay debut.
A few in-form types here, with Battenburg Belle coming off a good run at Catterick when shaping as though a return to a stiffer 6f would really suit. The same comment applies to LANARRA, though, also runner-up at Catterick last time on her reappearance, hitting the line well, and she appeals most with progress likely back over a stiffer 6f. Auspicious, runner-up over C&D last time, comes in as third choice with the promise of more to come.
Music Academy is from a top stable and sister to a Group 3 scorer, so it's easy to understand why she'd be fancied from an opening mark of just 65. The blinkers now go on for the first time and she could easily be good enough, but the top weight EPIDAVROS appeals as a more solid option. She's a former C&D winner who likes soft ground and is below her last winning mark. Blufferonthebus enters the race in form off a competitive mark and is another to consider.
Krissy was on a roll until finding the drop to 1m and very quick turnaround all too much at Thirsk last week. She could easily bounce back, having won well over this C&D the time before, but STAR CAST appeals more on this occasion. She's been in fine form herself, winning back-to-back before coming up short in a hat-trick bid upped to 12f at Musselburgh last time. She's off the same mark here and the stiff test at 9f should suit ideally. Amancio returned to the level with a sound run at Newbury and he's best of the rest despite top weight.
Ideal Guest reappeared with a solid effort at Catterick and can again go well, but ALBEYOURS appeals most. The mare is lightly raced for a 5yo and ran well at Doncaster on reappearance. Improvement is to be expected and she can take this off what remains a fair mark. Jkr Cobbler hasn't been at his best but that's reflected in his mark and he could go well as a former C&D scorer.
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