3:45 Carlisle Tips

Soft ground under top weight is not for the faint-hearted, but the selection has the best form in the race under these conditions and has sunk to a tasty mark through a nondescript AW campaign. Likely to be held up, we don't want to be miles off when it gets going.

Beltane is a really solid animal that holds a very good record on softer ground that you really will be looking for on this card. Experienced and likely to be up there at the end if showing his running.

I must confess I am not really sure why I am napping this, albeit to a small stake. Not sure to like the going, bred to like further. Slowly away last time, no show at 33/1 following transfer from Keatley's stable. Oisin O booked. Owner's only horse, I think, hence transfer. Carlisle has an uphill finish, so possible stamina could come into play. Price about right, just a possible pre-Ascot.

Showed good form in 5 outings on the AW earlier this year, 4/1/1/2/5, but couldn’t reproduce that form on switching to Turf in his latest outing, 20 days ago, when 6¼ lengths 9th of 11 in a Class 6, 1m handicap on GF ground Has only had 5 runs on Turf, with his best run coming on his only encounter with a Soft surface when a 2 lengths runner up in a Class 5, 1m handicap, so at odds of 10.00 it could be worth chancing that today’s going (Sft) brings about an improved performance and he produces a run nearer the level of form he showed in his earlier AW outings

Northfield Lake posted a respectable 3rd off 72 this time last year and has one run this season when unfancied. The handicapper has dropped him 8 lb for the last two races, allowing him an EW chance today off 62.