Raffles Wonder fancied for Carlisle win

Rebecca Menzies enjoyed a big-race double on the third and final day of the Go North Weekend last year and can strike gold once more on Sunday with progressive chaser Raffles Wonder.

The County Durham handler saddled Tom Cody and William Of York to win at Carlisle 12 months ago and will be hopeful of adding to her tally in the Ladbrokes Go North One Man Series Final Handicap Chase.

The winner of a bumper and victorious over hurdles, Raffles Wonder made a promising start to his career over fences when third at Hexham in December and travelled well for a long way on his next outing at Ayr early in the new year before cutting out fairly quickly in the home straight.

He was a well-backed favourite for his next start at his trainer's local course of Sedgefield three weeks later and duly bolted up, appearing well suited by the less demanding track, albeit two of his three rivals failed to complete.

Interestingly, the eight-year-old has undergone wind surgery since that run and running on a sounder surface under a handy racing weight of 67kg, it would be no surprise to see him turn in a career-best performance.

The hat-trick seeking Red Happy should prove difficult to beat in the Racing Post Go North Red Rum Series Final.

The eight-year-old has won four times in all for Cumbrian trainer George Bewley since being bought out of David Pipe's yard for £34,000 in the autumn of 2023.

His first couple of efforts this season were disappointing in truth, but he has bounced back since the turn of the year, with a narrow Musselburgh win followed by victory over this track and trip a fortnight ago.

A 3-point rise to 114 does not look insurmountable given he was rated 134 once upon a time.

O'Connell is backed to defy top-weight in the Ladbrokes Go North Monet's Garden Series Final.

The nine-year-old has enjoyed an excellent season for the training partnership of Joel Parkinson and Sue Smith, winning at Carlisle, Market Rasen and Sandown.

He was unable to concede over 6kg to Knockanore in the Eider Chase at Newcastle last month, but was comfortably best of the rest and a sizeable drop back in trip is not seen as a major issue.

Kayf Dancer is rated the best bet at Exeter in the curtain-raising Terry & Marie Reardon Memorial Maiden Hurdle.

A promising third on his bumper debut here a couple of years ago, the seven-year-old has presumably had his issues since, as he has only made it to the track twice more.

He was fifth on his first start over hurdles at Newbury behind the high-class Jingko Blue and bumped into an even better horse on his return from almost a year on the sidelines at Chepstow in October when third to recent Cheltenham Festival hero The New Lion.

With the runner-up from that race Belliano having also won twice since, Kayf Dancer will not need to improve much, if at all, on his performance that day to get off the mark.

Yes Day has an obvious chance in the Devon Stayers Handicap Chase.

The seven-year-old appears to have taken his game to another level since being stepped up to 4800m and beyond over fences, with a third-place finish at Market Rasen followed by an emphatic win at Hereford last time.

He tackles an even longer distance in this 6000m contest and might not have reached his ceiling just yet. - Press Association

SELECTIONS:

CARLISLE: Race 1 - 16.10 Admiral Stewart, Race 2 - 16.45 RAFFLES WONDER (NAP), Race 3 - 17.20 Red Happy, Race 4 - 17.55 O'Connell, Race 5 - 18.30 Credo, Race 6 - 19.05 Trafalgar Square.

EXETER: Race 1 - 16.28 Kayf Dancer, Race 2 - 17.02 Miss Popalong, Race 3 - 17.37 Blacksamssenorita, Race 4 - 18.13 Yes Day, Race 5 - 18.48 Micronormous, Race 6 - 19.23 Caracara.

LIMERICK: Race 1 - 15.43 Jalila Moriviere, Race 2 - 16.18 Ellaat, Race 3 - 16.53 Dr Eggman, Race 4 - 17.28 Springt De La Mare, Race 5 - 18.03 Harry Des Ongrais, Race 6 - 18.38 Banprionsa, Race 7 - 19.13 Oneinthewell.

NAAS: Race 1 - 15.28 Velvet Skies, Race 2 - 16.03 Gazelle d'Or, Race 3 - 16.38 Iron Fist, Race 4 - 17.13 En Or, Race 5 - 17.48 Tangapour, Race 6 - 18.23 Dawn Rising, Race 7 - 18.58 Guilty Pleasure, Race 8 - 19.30 Trinity College.