Carlisle & Chester selections Saturday 30th May
Having stepped in at the last minute to cover for the problems on Haydock’s track, Carlisle stages what surely must be its best ever card this afternoon. I have selections from three races including the Silver Cup rerouted from Haydock’s ill-fated card last week.
Carlisle 1.30: Humble Spark
Although this might be a grade above the normal sort of race he contests, there are good reasons to think HUMBLE SPARK has a big each-way chance in the opener.
The gelding is on a 14 race losing streak and usually plies his trade on the All Weather. However his turf form of late has been great. Twice this month he has finished second at Hamilton in valuable handicaps at around this trip. This horse is a confirmed hold up horse who needs the front-runners to come back to him and then get luck in running to plot his way through the field.
In Ghaiyya and Topteam there are at least two horses in the field who should set a decent gallop and that should bring Humble Spark into the race late on. He does having winning form on turf – at Hamilton another track with a stiff finish and with no weight to carry he is in the form to be on the premises.
Carlisle 2.00: Jordan Electrics
Trainer Jim Goldie has another big chance in the next with JORDAN ELECTRICS.
The 10yo enjoyed a remarkable season in 2024 winning six times climbing up the ratings to a high of 102. He was in the grip of the handicapper as a result last season despite some decent performances in races like the 6f heritage handicap at York’s Ebor meeting where he finished fifth. However the assessor has finally relented that grip now and he is back down to a workable mark of 88.
He ran two fine races over as far as 7f recently, second in a competitive heat at Newmarket and then sixth in the Victoria Cup at Ascot. I think we can draw a line through his last run at Hamilton as 5f is simply too sharp a test these days. There are no worries about his ability at 6f though and another thing in his favour is he is 2-2 at Carlisle.
Chester 3.30: Supido
It probably took all of 2025 for SUPIDO to acclimatise to his new surroundings with Ian Williams having moved from his native France. However his course win at the big May meeting here indicated he is fully settled in now and he can follow up back at Chester today.
He acted perfectly on this turning track and ran on gamely for pressure in the straight for Billy Loughnane to see off Snow Master. He has the same pilot on board today and has only been put up 4lbs for that win.
There are two confirmed front-runners in the race and they are drawn 1 & 2 so it seems pretty obvious they will make use of their stalls to blaze a trail. Supido happens to be drawn right next door in 3 so should get the perfect tow into the race.
Carlisle 3.45: Princling & Blue Courvoisier
This race should have been run at Haydock last week but has been switched to this far more undulating track. However I have no concerns that this will be an issue for my main selection PRINCLING last week so I stick by William Haggas’ colt.
Whilst he was an easy winner of a weak novice at Wetherby last month, at least advertising his well being, it was his efforts in defeat at the back end of last season that make him the one to beat today. He was just touched off at Kempton on debut despite running very green, and then only found the very useful Yazin too good at Newmarket.
On both occasions he was staying on strongly over 7f and he got the mile well at Wetherby. Indeed as a son of Frankellina, placed twice over 10f in pattern races, he ought to stay further, so this stiffer track should be ideal.
BLUE COURVOISIER looks an each-way saver alternative. He won on debut on Leicester’s undulating track last season and although he has not won in three starts since, he has shown promise on each occasion and gained valuable experience without ruining his handicap mark in the process.
At both Newmarket and Ascot this season he raced prominently throughout and kept going well for second and fourth place respectively. Carlisle can often suit front-runners, especially on fast ground so I can see this colt being up there throughout. At the odds he looks Clive Cox’s second string, but I would be worried about the fast ground for Langstone who has hung badly in his last couple of races and the trainer has already shown misgivings about running him on firm ground.
Recommended bets:
1pt each-way – Humble Spark– 1.30 Carlisle –8/1 Bet365 (most bookies 1/5 odds 1st 4)
1pt each-way – Jordan Electrics – 2.0 Carlisle – 7/1 genera (most bookies 1/5 odds 1st 4)
1pt win – Supido – 3.30 Chester – 11/4 general
1pt win – Princling – 3.45 Carlisle – 11/4 general
1pt each-way – Blue Courvoisier – 3.45 Carlisle – 11/1 Unibet (1/5 odds 1st 4)
