A magnificent treble at Carlisle last time round makes trainer Tim Easterby the one to watch at Tuesday’s eight-race meeting.
The North Yorkshire handler has four more runners among the 89 declared for the evening event.
Easterby enjoyed a tremendous last day of May when Timetodock, Afandem and Lady Calcaria, in the feature EBF Premier Fillies Handicap, all came home. Secretarial had opened his Carlisle account for the season the previous day.
Now with four wins from 18 he’s an early leader for the course’s top flat trainer prize.
Amadeus Grey leads the charge in Tuesday evening’s main event, a one-mile handicap. The three-year-old will be looking for a first 2019 success after rounding off the previous season with a victory at Musselburgh over similar distance.
Leading contenders look to include Jedd O’Keeffe’s Archaeology who won over 8f at Doncaster last time out and Ramesses for Richard Fahey. The bay gelding was a winner in a field of 14 at Leicester in April and third at Carlisle in May when he was a contender inside the final furlong.
Harvey Dent for Archie Watson provides one of seven rides for Paul Mulrennan, currently top of Carlisle’s flat season jockeys’ table with three from 17.
There are two divisions of the Racing TV Handicap over 1m 1f. In the first, Declan Carroll’s Motahassen looks the one to beat after success at Haydock last time out. The five-year-old also has good history at this course, making all the running over 9f to win at the Durdar track last August.
In the second, Jackhammer, with Mulrennan in the saddle, and Milan Reef for David Loughnane, will both have claims. The former, trained by Cumbria’s Dianne Sayer, had a hugely impressive May when winning at both Carlisle and Ayr and was placed in his other two outings. The latter was third here in May when favourite over the same distance and went one better at Haydock last week.
Seventeen runners and riders, the biggest field of the night, will challenge over a one-mile handicap. Among these, Precision Prince has likely been the busiest with nine runs, including one win, in 2019. Easterby’s Juniors Fantasy was a runner up last time out at Wolverhampton.
Roger Varian, currently fourth in the trainers’ championship having amassed more than £1.1m in prize money with a prolific 21% ratio, has a contender in a 7f fillies handicap. Regal Banner will have her second run of the season after returning fourth in a 13-strong field at Nottingham last month.
John Mackie’s Polyphony and Kermouster for Grant Tuer both showed good form in May with success at Ayr and Ripon respectively. Keith Dalgleish’s Forever A Lady knows her way round this track and her stable can point to a win here two years ago as grounds for optimism.
In the evening’s final race, Panatos for Alexandra Dunn has shown a liking for two milers with a May win at Chepstow. The McCain’s, Donald and Ella, go with Tawseef, a winner here in August 2017.
The evening’s entertainment should get off to a flyer with well supported maiden and novice stakes.
Carlisle Racecourse General Manager Molly Dingwall said: “The last meeting was a fantastic success for Tim Easterby’s stable and I’m sure they’d like nothing more than a repeat.
“But, as ever, there’ll be lots of great talent on show. We can look forward to an exciting evening on the track with some highly competitive racing.”
Tickets are £15 for adults (in advance) or £18 (on the day). Under-18s free entry when accompanied by an adult. Gates open on Tuesday at 3.30pm, first race is 5.30pm and last race 9pm.
