There is an unfamiliar look to the ITV schedule following the abandonment of Haydock, but our man has found some recommendations from the action at Carlisle and Beverley.
Carlisle Selections
Make sure your punting has a silver lining on Carlisle's quality card. DARK CLOUD RISING (2.00) loves tracks with stiff uphill finishes and this race could set up perfectly for him. His three runs this year have been pretty uninspiring but there have been excuses.
He fluffed the start at York a couple of weeks ago and that pancake-flat course doesn't play to his strengths. In four visits to the Knavesmire, he has been beaten more than ten lengths on each occasion. He had gone without his usual cheekpieces on his previous start at Leicester and he probably needed the run when returning from a four-month break at Pontefract in April.
His last win came in this grade when wearing headgear for the first time at Newcastle in November. He now swaps cheekpieces for a visor. His below-par efforts this year mean he's become nicely treated and his trainer, David O'Meara, appears to be coming into form after a sluggish start to the season. Have 1pt each-way at 25-1. Sky Bet is paying out on five places.
INISHBEG (3.45) should love the step up in distance in the Betway Silver Bowl. This race has been rearranged from last week's ill-fated Haydock card and it gives Kevin Ryan's runner an excellent opportunity to bounce back from a disappointing handicap debut at York.
He simply went too hard from the widest draw to make sure he secured the early lead and that left him with nothing in reserve to hold off the faster finishers. A slightly more patient ride over this near-mile trip should help him show his true colours, especially now he seems to have learned to relax in the early stages of his races. Excellent apprentice jockey Jack Nicholls will be in the saddle. He has ridden three winners from just nine rides for Ryan. Have 1pt each-way at 14-1. Plenty of firms are offering five places.
Beverley Selections
There's a couple of decent races for two-year-olds at Beverley and ROLLTHEDICEBABY (2.15) is worth supporting in the Hilary Needler Trophy. She made a promising debut when runner-up behind subsequent Listed runner-up Armor Supreme at Goodwood. The stiffer track should help her take a big step forward. Have 1pt each-way at 12-1. Sky Bet go four places.
