Star Of Southwold out to land another Carlisle Bell for Middleham Park Racing

3.30 Carlisle
AGMA Stablemate Carlisle Bell | 1m, 3yo+ | RTV

Middleham Park Racing are out to land their third AGMA Stablemate Carlisle Bell (3.30) in just four years with topweight Star Of Southwold, who is backing up just six days after returning to winning ways at Chelmsford.

The Bell, which can be traced back to 1599 and the reign of Elizabeth I, remains the oldest sporting trophy still contested in Britain and is as competitive as ever this year.

Star Of Southwold moved from Richard Hannon to the Mick Appleby yard last winter and has won twice for his new trainer, most recently when holding off his owner's first string Lexington Empire by a head in Essex last Thursday.

Middleham Park won this 12 months ago with Waarif and also with Edgar Balthazar in 2016, and their spokesman Tim Palin said: "Star Of Southwold is 3lb wrong in the race as they only put him up 2lb for Chelmsford and now he's carrying a 5lb penalty. We're claiming off him, which helps, and this is his last chance to run in a 0-85 handicap."

Star Of Southwold, who has done all his racing at distances between 1m1½f and 1m4f, drops to a mile for this £31,200 prize, and Palin added: "Mick has done a great job with him as he was a poorly horse when he first arrived. We like to win the Bell and he was the best fit for the conditions."

Cumbrian trainer Dianne Sayer is ready to stake her claim for horseracing's most historic prize after a quarter century of training winners from her stables at Hackthorpe at nearby Penrith.

Sayer has had four wins from nine runners at Carlisle this season and is represented by The Navigator, a neck runner-up over course and distance off this mark last month.

Sayer said: "This is a massive leap for us but every now and again you've got to be brave.

"It's a tough race as usual, but The Navigator is familiar with running at Carlisle and has run all his best races there."

Sayer has two chances in Bell Consolation

Dianne Sayer has two chances in the Carlisle Bell Consolation Handicap (3.00) over a mile with the prolific pair Redarna and Jackhammer.

Redarna has won two of his four races this season, while Jackhammer has gone in three times in six starts in 2019.

Redarna: won two from four this seasonCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Sayer said: "We hope Redarna is still progressing and we've had Jackhammer for a couple of years. He'd lost his way a little bit, but seems to have turned the corner and is enjoying life again."

Dumfriesshire-based Iain Jardine, who runs last time out course winner Smugglers Creek, said: "It's a good distance for him as he's fast and also stays, so this mile should suit."

Davidson going for it with Chingachgook

Tristan Davidson is another Cumbrian trainer hoping to land a big local prize, namely the Cumberland Plate Handicap (4.00) over 1m3f.

The Irthington-based former milkman and point-to-point rider runs Chingachgook, who tries this trip for the first time.

He said of the bottomweight: "When you've a chance of having a go at this type of race you just have to go for it. Chingachgook's going well, he won a hurdle for us at Musselburgh and we've prepared him with this in mind."

Tim Easterby has won this prize for the last two years and is represented by Appointed and Dance King, with the David Allan-ridden Appointed appearing to be the stable's main hope.

Volcanic Sky, who ran a fine race on his seasonal return at Kempton this month, represents the all-powerful Godolphin operation.

Trainer Saeed Bin Suroor, having just his fourth runner at Carlisle in the last five years, said: "Volcanic Sky has done well since his last run and we expect him to be competitive at a track that should suit."

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