It appears that I'm going through one of those patches where anything that is tipped up just runs like rubbish, no matter the odds.
Jus De Citron was kept wide throughout his race, which seems to be a constant theme in the last week. I really despise that tactic; giving away free ground for no reason is just baffling when the field isn't huge.
His jumping was slow, and he rarely met a fence on a great stride, which the jockey needs to take blame for.
It didn't look like he saw the trip out, but he has to be worth another chance at the trip, as his jumping wasn't great and he was widest throughout, both affecting his gas tank.
Hardy Du Seuil 7/2 (1pt) – Carlisle 1.35
I totally understand why Grain d'Oudairies is the market favourite ahead of my selection. That horse has been in decent form this year, and he finished second in a 0-150 last time out, but when you actually look into it, the race was a 0-134. I think he is probably on a handicap mark which is too high now, and he might be better over slightly further.
The rest of the field didn't really stand out to me, apart from Soft Risk, but he is making his return from a 700-day absence. Therefore, Hardy Du Seuil was a horse I wanted to be on. He has been mixing it over hurdles and fences this season, running well when running in Class 3 events. The run at Haydock last time out was a good effort, finishing behind a couple of progressive horses and an in-form veteran.
Jamie Snowden has sent up a couple of horses to Carlisle, but Isabelle Ryder has gone up for the one ride on this horse in particular. She has ridden him three times in a row, so she definitely sees the trip worthwhile.
Zhanma Enki 13/2 (1pt) – Carlisle 4.35
I could be barking up the wrong tree with Zhanma Enki, but I honestly thought she would be strong in the market when the betting opened up. She sits at 13/2 – 7/1, so that has made me want to try her on her handicap debut.
J J Slevin has made the trip across the pond for a couple of rides for Stuart Crawford on the double green owned horses, and they all seem to be in with a chance. This horse hasn't shown much from her three runs over hurdles, but it's always eyecatching when they whack them up in trip on their handicap debuts.
Today, she runs over 3m 1f, which is much further than the 2m she faced last time out and the 2m 5f the time before. It's hard to say whether she'll stay the trip, but if her pedigree is anything to go off, it looks positive.
She is related to Yala Enki, who stayed 3m 5f and was a very good horse.
GambleAware