Here And Now bids to follow up Chester win
3.40 Salisbury
Whitsbury Manor Stud Bibury Cup Handicap | 1m4f | 3yo | RUK
It is not just Carlisle that stages a historic race on Wednesday, with Salisbury's Bibury Cup also taking place.
First staged in 1899, the Bibury Cup is a relative whippersnapper compared to the Carlisle Bell, which was first run in 1599, but it has provided a Classic winner recently, with Simple Verse taking the race in 2015 – the same year she went on to win the St Leger.
Ralph Beckett again has a leading contender, Here And Now, who beat subsequent Queen's Vase winner Stradivarius last time out.
"The form of that Chester race has worked out really well," Beckett said. "He's due to go up 3lb from Saturday and hopefully he will put it all together again."
Eve Johnson Houghton has On To Victory, who is trying the 1m4f trip for the first time, and the trainer said: "A drop of rain would help him, and I think the step up in trip will help him hugely. He's in great form."
Marcus Tregoning has his team in great form, with only one of his last nine runners finishing out of the first four, with three winning.
He saddles Seafarer, who won his maiden at the track last August, but if the ground turns too slow he may not run.
Tregoning said: "I'm watching the weather as he handles fast ground really well. He's in really good form, it looks competitive and I'll be guided by the weather. If it gets too soft we might skip it."
The ground at Salisbury was described as good to firm on Tuesday, but up to 10mm of rain was forecast overnight.
Chepstow maiden winner Great Sound goes for John Gosden, while Ryan Moore has his first ride of the season for Peter Chapple-Hyam aboard Redicean, who was a winner last time out at Redcar.
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- Racing Postcast: Haydock, Goodwood, York and the Curragh | Previews and tips
- Three things to note: Hollie Doyle one to watch at Pontefract and a Cheltenham Festival winner lines up at Downpatrick
- 4.20 Haydock: top sprinter Azure Blue out to show her class - although ground is a 'worry'
- 3.35 Goodwood: why the fillies' allowance could prove decisive - analysis and trainer quotes for a competitive Listed event
- 7.20 Curragh: 'He likes being fresh and seems in great form at home' - dependable Dunum heads big field