Carlisle - Wednesday 24th June 2026
Having finished a respectable fifth on her debut at Nottingham, QUEEN OF CHRISTMAS could put her experience to good use. Karl Burke's filly is open to improvement and a breakthrough victory may beckon. Louis The Fifth fetched 215,000 euros last month and market support would be interesting, although a bigger threat may emerge from fellow newcomer In The Black, who is closely related to Group 2 winner El Caballo.
It's difficult to get away from SILESIA, who has posted creditable efforts in defeat on all three outings. A reproduction of her latest third in Hilary Needler at Beverley should make her difficult to beat and she's likely to prove a warm order. Enhancing should find this easier than her opening eighth at Newbury and she may serve the most resistance to the selection, while Ruby Moon is the pick of the newcomers.
Mrs Mole displayed enough promise on her fourth-placed debut at Leicester to suggest that she can land a race of this nature and isn't taken lightly. However, SOCIAL SPIRIT's form looks a tad stronger judged on his latest fifth in the Woodcote at Epsom and he is the one to beat. Ricky Punting is not without a chance, while Platinum Force makes most appeal of the debutants.
RUNSWICK has done little wrong in two handicap outings this season and he could be poised to strike. The three-year-old was denied by only a short head on his most recent outing at Chester and a 2lb rise looks workable. Although unable to justify favouritism at Ripon earlier this month, Barley wasn't disgraced when coming home in third. Tim Easterby's gelding merits consideration, along with Pension Pot and Geo.
This does not appear to be the strongest of races for the grade and that is ideal for ELLUSIVE BUTTERFLY. Karl Burke's filly beat the boys when scoring at this level at Epsom earlier in the month and it would be no surprise to see her defy a 3lb penalty. Golden Palace was third in a similar event at Musselburgh recently and is likely to be in the mix once again, while Albaydaa is progressive and could make an impact in this company.
Leadenhall has to be respected having won two of his last three starts, but marginal preference is for CANVAS. Scott Dixon's gelding was a promising fourth at Newmarket on his seasonal return last month and the four-year-old could build on that effort here. Priapos is another recent winner who has to be considered, while Swift Salian and Mr Lincoln complete the shortlist.
The form of WINE DARK SEA's win at Ascot in May has worked out extremely well and, while this is a competitive handicap, it is hard to oppose Harry Charlton's gelding off just 5lb higher. Alpine Sierra has to be of interest following three wins in May and he cannot be discounted, despite a big step up in grade. The recent York winner Dunkeld Dreamer edges out Gaelic Approach and Trojan Sun to be best of the rest.
NANOSCIENCE won for the second time from three starts this season over 7f at Wetherby earlier in the month. A 1lb rise for that success appears to underestimate this progressive filly and she could add another win to her record. That said, the recent Yarmouth maiden winner Shushu has to be noted on her handicap debut and Donna Nook is also considered.
In The Black is a newcomer of significant interest being a sister to a pair of Group 2 juvenile performers and she cost 320,000gns, so it would be no surprise to see her make a winning start, but QUEEN OF CHRISTMAS has the benefit of experience and is from a yard that excels with its juvenile runners at this venue. Her debut fifth at Nottingham came behind subsequent Queen Mary runner-up Senorita Bonita and this looks easier potentially. Louis The Fifth is a southern runner of interest on debut also in what could be a decent little race.
Enhancing is surely capable of better than she showed on debut and a tongue-tie is now tried which could obviously help, but SILESIA sets a fair standard and has certainly been shaping as though the step up to 6f will suit. She's taken to get off the mark although Ruby Moon and Love Tanya are newcomers of note for decent connections. Each boast attractive profiles.
Social Spirit sets the standard for those to have raced, finishing a good fifth in a stronger race than this at Epsom last time, and he promises to improve for the step up to 7f, but this might go to a newcomer with PLATINUM FORCE appealing most for Michael Bell. He cost 50,000euros at the breeze-ups and should make a decent 2yo as a son of Blackbeard. Mia Fantasia is respected also for good connections and the market will likely reveal what's respected on debut.
Geo has been in good form and remains on a fair mark, but this can go to one of the 3yos. I Can Dance is tempting having run to a useful level in three starts as a juvenile but he's been off for 273 days and he should have plenty more to offer this season as a half-brother to a Listed scorer, but the lack of a recent run tips the scales in favour of RUNSWICK. He's returned with two rock-solid placed efforts, just being denied at Chester last time, and a 2lb rise may not be enough to stop him going one place better.
Ellusive Butterfly is a solid contender having won a Listed event at Epsom over the trip last time, but she's saddled with a penalty now which could leave her vulnerable. Golden Palace is pick at the weights and she ran well at this level at Musselburgh last time, so victory for her wouldn't surprise, but it's ALBAYDAA who is the selection. Hailing from the bang in-form William Haggas yard, she's related to recent Group 1-winning sprinter Almeraq and is surely capable of better still now venturing outside of handicap company for the first time. She's got a fair bit to find at the weights but can take a big jump forward.
Always a competitive handicap, Priapos is coming off a good win over C&D and will appeal to many off a 3lb higher mar, but this can go to LEADENHALL, a winner for the second time in three starts at Nottingham just the other day and in here without a penalty. He's drawn a little wide, but is favourably weighted and should put up a big effort with Jake Dickson claiming a valuable 7lb. Others to consider are the selections stablemate Financer, who gets first-time blinkers, and Altareq, below form over 10f at York last time but looking of definite interest on earlier efforts.
This good handicap has gone to 3yos for each of the past two seasons and can do so again with GAELIC APPROACH taken to strike from the foot of the weights. Conor Beasley's mount has won two of his last four starts, including over 14f at Redcar two run ago, and there was little wrong with his latest Doncaster third in a decent race. Dropping in trip here under an aggressive ride could really suit. Wine Dark Sea improved again at Ascot last time and surely has more to offer with a 5lb rise leaving him competitive. Dunkeld Dreamer, like the selection an in-form 3yo, is another to consider strongly, while Alpine Sierra is on a four-timer and clearly can't be discounted.
Shushu is an interesting newcomer to handicaps with potential for her top yard having got off the mark last time, but NANOSCIENCE is an improving filly herself who likes to make the running and she may well go in again here having gone up just 1lb for winning at Wetherby. Donna Nook, a winner over 1m at Ripon tried in this headgear combination last time, is third choice but may prove vulnerable to the 3yos.
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