'On the weights he should win' - key quotes for the Colin Parker Memorial Chase

Sunday: 2.30 Carlisle
Colin Parker Memorial Intermediate Chase (Listed) | 2m4f | 4yo+ | RTV

The Colin Parker Memorial may hold Listed status but the roll of honour undersells that. Over the last decade Grade 1 winners Fiddlerontheroof, Lostintranslation, Waiting Patiently and Saphir De Rheu captured the Cumbria track's premier prize en route to stardom while Ahoy Senor, Cyrname and Bristol De Mai feature among the leading lights who fell short at Carlisle.

The sole top-level scorer in this year's field is the talented Millers Bank, who earned his stripes with an authoritative ten-length success in the Manifesto Novices' Chase in April.

However, jumping is the name of the game and that key skill-set is becoming a hindrance to Millers Bank who has unseated his rider on three of his past six starts. The Alex Hales-trained homebred was up to his old tricks when unshipping Kielan Woods at the first in the Old Roan at Aintree last Sunday.

We can essentially treat this contest as Millers Bank's seasonal return after that non-event, and he will need to be on his A-game under a Grade 1 penalty against a couple of rivals who are better treated on these terms.

Admittedly the two in question, Beauport and Bear Ghylls, are chasing debutants and this is quite a first assignment over fences. Beauport receives 12lb from Millers Bank despite being officially rated only 5lb lower and progressed markedly over hurdles, finishing his season rated 148 after climbing 26lb in 13 months.

He is feared if taking to chasing, but surely Bear Ghylls, who reached a peak rating of 142 over hurdles, is the better long-term prospect. Injury cruelly robbed Bear Ghylls of a chasing campaign last term and he returns from 592 days off the track.

Finishing fourth in a vintage Ballymore behind Bob Olinger, Gaillard Du Mesnil and Bravemansgame was a commendable effort on just his fifth career start and the sky is the limit for this seven-year-old.

In a race where only rank outsiders Burrows Diamond and Upton Road can be confidently ruled out, a mention must also go to Minella Drama and Corach Rambler. Both chasers enjoyed highly productive novice seasons and are players on their best form.
Race analysis by Robbie Wilders

Rambler on route to Coral Gold Cup

Corach Rambler makes his first start since his memorable success at the Cheltenham Festival with connections eyeing next month's Coral Gold Cup at Newbury.

It is a tried and tested route as Many Clouds won the Colin Parker before claiming glory in what was then the Hennessy Gold Cup in 2014, while last year's winner Fiddlerontheroof went on to finish a close second at Newbury.

Corach Rambler powers up the hill to win at the Cheltenham FestivalCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

The manner of Corach Rambler's victory in the Ultima over 3m1f marked him out as an exciting staying prospect, as he came from the rear to win going away, and he is likely to be seen to better effect over further than this 2m4f trip.

Trainer Lucinda Russell said: "This is a stepping stone to the Coral Gold Cup, it's a nice race to start off and it works well for us. If he wins, he wins but the trip is too short for him and we'll be delighted if he stays on up the hill. He was marvellous for us last season and he's a lovely horse who is a joy to be involved with."

What they say

Alex Hales, trainer of Millers Bank
He seems absolutely fine after his unseat at Aintree. Luckily, he only did a circuit and we managed to catch him. Kielan Woods came in to school him and he was absolutely A1. The whole plan was to run at Aintree and then go to Huntingdon for the Peterborough Chase and if I don't run him this weekend I'm slightly stuck.

Donald McCain, trainer of Minella Drama
He's in good nick and he galloped at Haydock the other week, so he's ready to get started. He was also in the hurdle race just in case the ground wasn't right for him, but he's a chaser so we'll kick on over fences.

Nicky Martin, trainer of Bear Ghylls
We're all excited as he's going really well. It's a very big task going there in the company he'll be taking on, but there are a restricted number of novice chases for him at two and a half miles, which I want to start him off at. They say Carlisle is a lovely track for novices first time up. I'd love to think he'll go and win in that company and we need to get out now the ground is changing in his favour. It's the logical place.

Nigel Twiston-Davies, trainer of Beauport
At the weights he should win, so let's hope he does. We're happy with him for his first start over fences. He's a nice big horse who has some high-class hurdle form.

Sue Smith, trainer of Burrows Diamond
It's her first run of the season and it has been difficult to find her a race. She seems to be in good form and it's a nice place to start her off.
Reporting by Andrew Dietz

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