Carlisle, 20.12 - Back Naturalia @ 9/25.50
Following a slow start to the calendar year, apprentice Shay Farmer is starting to find winners, confidence and some consistency.
A victory aboard King Of The Jungle for the Easterby operation at Beverley late last month appears to have kickstarted the young rider's season and narrow wins aboard Division Day and Crocus Time last week have highlighted Farmer's skills in the saddle.
The 18-year-old also went close aboard 20/121.00 chance Chuzzlewit at Newcastle recently and has the opportunity to renew his association with Naturalia whom he also rode to finish second behind the in-form Alpine Sierra at today's venue at the end of last month.
That was the 17th time Farmer had partnered the daughter of Sea The Moon and she appeared to relish the return to 11 furlongs that day following a couple of one-paced efforts over nine furlongs at Musselburgh and Hamilton previously.
The selection handled cut in the ground well at this track when landing one of her two career wins around this time two years ago and she could end a winless sequence stretching back to July last summer.
Back Naturalia in the 20:12 at Carlisle
Carlisle, 20.12 - Back Taylormade Lad @ 4/15.00
With five winners in the past fortnight, Michael Dods has struck form with a vengeance and it might be prudent to add Taylormade Lad to the portfolio for this race given he is closely matched with Naturalia on their running here last month.
I was with the son of Gregorian when he tried to derail the juggernaught that is Alpine Sierra over course and distance last time (Naturalia runner-up) and he arguably expended too much energy early on, leaving him precious little reserves with which to try and overhaul his imposing rival up the Carlisle hill.
This easier ground may suit Taylormade Lad who ran well at Hamilton on easy ground last September and it is worth noting that he finished closer to Alpine Sierra last month than he had done at Hamilton on his previous start.
Back Taylormade Lad in the 20:12 at Carlisle