17:10 Well that’s it from the meeting we did not think would go ahead but it did and the fair sized crowd that turned up witnessed some half decent racing.

It even stayed reasonably dry for most of the afternoon.

All I have to do now is kill three hours before my train – so here’s hoping I can find a decent curry house.

From Carlisle a very good evening.

17:05 What a most amazing race?

Julia Too was being a right dog as the race got underway, pulling and even attempting to buck Campbell Gillies out of the saddle. She did eventually consent to race but Gillies had to work at her all the time.

By dint of the fact she began to pull hard she was soon behind the leader Porridge, alongside Thetasteofparadise and Gogeo.

Most watchers were waiting for Julia Too to blow up after he antics but instead of hitting reverse she pulled clear a furlong from home as the front running Porridge did find reverse gear.

Irish Chaperone had been well backed and tried to haul in the recalcitrant Julia Too but the filly held on to record a half-length.

Full credit to Gillies for getting the filly home, yet alone in front. OK it wasn’t the strongest bumper of the season but if she learns to settle better (this was her debut) she will surely be in the winners enclosure again.

16:44 Just the bumper to end proceedings, the 1m 6f Alexandra Burke Live 1st August Junior Standard Open NH Flat Race with eight going to post.

16:37 It goes without saying they came home tired after this three mile slog in the mud.

Double Default did his utmost to make all but had to cede the  advantage between the final two fences as Beamazed, who had been harrying him from halfway, finally got his head in front soon running clear.

Master Eddy set off in pursuit of Beamazed and although the leader was tiring Master Eddy could not close the gap quickly enough only getting within 2¾ lengths of the winner.

Double Default came home a very tired third, 22 lengths behind the front pair, with Aghill the only other finisher.  

16:12 Our final race over obstacles is the extended three mile Lloyd Motors Lawn Suites Open Today Novices’ Handicap Chase with eight due to face the starter.

16:02 Before the race Double Eagle was withdrawn after the vet had a look at his near fore, it looked like heat in his shoulder.

Knockara Beau set out to make all but had to fight hard in the closing stages to hold off a determined challenge of Heathcliff. The winning distance of 1¼ lengths belies how hard the winner had to battle to take the prize.

Dicklers Oscar looked to be in a challenging position two out but quickly faded to be headed by Political Paddy who seemed to find a second wind in the final stages and Sa Suffit, another to find a second wind.

15:34 Race five is another of the Pertemps Handicap Qualifiers, a 3m 1f hurdle contest which will take some getting today.

Ten go to post.

Double Eagle is proving to be a double handful in the parade ring, Sa Suffit is pulling and Diklers Oscar is a slight puller.

Knockara Beau and Mr Woods both caught the eye.

15:25 A good finish in a dramatic contest, once again showing you do not need large fields to have an exciting race.

The well backed favourite Cadoudalas and Wind Shuffle shared the lead for most of the contest, with Indian Groom and King O’The Gypsies forming second rang and Cloonawillin Lady always well behind.

Approaching three out it looked as though we were going to have a battle royal on our hands as Cadoudalas, Wind Shuffle and King O’The Gypsies  approached the fence almost line abreast with the last named looking to be going best of the three.

King O’The Gypsies did not get high enough though and Ryan Mania stood no chance of maintaining the partnership.

It now looked to be a two horse challenge between Cadoudalas and Wind Shuffle and so it was two out, with Indian Groom well back in third under pressure.

However approaching the last Indian Groom had joined the other pair and all three jumped in contention.

On the run-in Wind Shuffle was first to crack.

Cadoudalas had the advantage of the far rail and had to pull out all the stops to hold off the determined challenge of Indian Groom who was within a neck as they crossed the line.

15:04 Just the five in the next, the Weatherbys Bloodstock Insurance Novices’ Chase, another two mile contest.

14:59 The sun is breaking through

14:55 Another contest where the runners come home well strung out and this was more of a tactical affair than the opening two races.

Duke Of Malfi and Lindseyfield Lodge set the, steady, early pace with the field well bunched behind.

As they went past the post for the first time the eventual winner, Tartan Snow, had only two behind.

As they came down the back straight, where two fences were omitted, Gary Rutherford made steady progress on Tartan Snow to be in a challenging position upsides Overbranch who had taken up the running and had also put in some pretty decent jumps in the process.

14:29 Our first chase is the two mile Texas Live In Concert Here 2nd July Handicap Chase with ten going to post.

Absolutely nothing of note from the parade ring, no positives, no negatives.

14:21 Well this time the front running tactics did pay off as Alexander Road virtually made all to record a seven length victory in this 2½ mile slog.      

Always to the for, she was occasionally headed by Swinside Silver as the pair ran in unison for the first two-thirds of the contest.

They set of at a steady pace, which meant the field were well bunched for most of the contest, it was only as they turned to home the field began to string out.

As Alexander Rose made the best of her way home her challengers quickly dropped out. The only rival running on was Lua De Itapoan, who did so without threatening the winner.

Etoile Ardente was a one paced third, with Hole In One back in fourth.

The favourite, Along Came Rosie, was in a challenging position turning for home but could only come home fifth.   

13:59 Race two is a 2½ mile hurdle as 12 go to post for the European Breeders’ Fund Mares’ National Hunt Novices Hurdle.

13:51 Heartache for backers and connections of Bow Badger who  led everywhere apart from the line, getting “done” by the favourite High Ransom on the line, winning by a neck.

A big what if in the contest as Bow Badger’s rider Wilson Renwick lost his whip on the run-in, did it make enough difference to cost him the race?

It is no surprise the field were strung out in these testing conditions, which jockeys describe as Heavy but they say the horses are getting through it.

Si Bien came home third but 20 lengths behind the front pair and Canal Cottage further back in fourth.

13:23 The opening contest is the Leslies Garden Centre Novices’ Hurdle a 2m 1f contest with 11 going to post.

13:09 There is a new press room here at Carlisle and the good news is it has a good view of the parade ring, so I can paddock watch in comfort.

12:56 It has begun raining again, not too heavy but enough to be annoying.

12:45 It may not be raining any more but it is very overcast and dull it will be interesting to see what the light is like come the last.

Still no non-runners, although it will be interesting to see if any are pulled out after the opener.

12:14 Some good news, the rain has finally stopped.

11:38 Two fences being omitted this afternoon, the first fence after the stands and the last on the far side.

View is we are only racing here today because there has been little racing on the track, so it is in reasonable nick - I don't think it will be by five this afternoon.

11:09 Perhaps the BHA should look at a going beyond Heavy, something like Squelchy would be appropriate here today.

Put it this way I weigh 14 stone and I am leaving an impression in the ground. The only "good" thing is it is wet enough so it may be loose not sticky.

10:43 Good morning from a wet Carlisle where it is raining steadily, although not as badly as it was a bit further south.

There is a strong head wind, head-on into the home straight.

There are still no non-runners here.

06:54 There has been 3mm of rain overnight and it is still drizzling at the course.

There is a slight change to the overnight going and the course is now Heavy all over.

The forecast is for heavy showers as the day progresses.

Racing gets underway at 13:35 and there are currently no non-runners.

Return to race archive:

Non-Runners

The time in brackets is the time the horse was officially declared a non-runner.

SC - Self Certificate
VC - Vet's Certificate

Non-runners

14:05
12 Tanzanite Bay (Knocked Joint- VC 13:02)

15:10
2 Alfie Flits (going - 13:55)

16:50
5 Plus Jamais (lame - VC 15:05)

Results

13:35 Novices' Hurdle 2m 1f

14:05 Novices Hurdle 2m 4f

14:40 Handicap Chase 2m

15:10 Novices' Chase 2m

15:45 Handicap Hurdle 3m 1f

16:20 Handicap Chase 3m 110yds

16:50 Open NH Flat 1m 6f