Dave Nevison: horse racing tips for Carlisle on Thursday

I generally like racing at Carlisle as the course seems always to attract interesting competitive fields both on the Flat and Jumps.

It seems a good spot to have a tentative dip into the Jumps form book and, hopefully, the trio below will make an impact. The Racing TV cameras will also be at The Curragh, Tramore and Chelmsford.

I thought this mare was going to prove better than this level and put her up as my horse to follow a couple of seasons back. I’m now banking on a wind operation helping her fulfill her early promise.

Mulberry Hill is definitely a consistent type but has never been the easiest to settle in her races. She has often been restrained too far back and been unable able to make up enough ground.

My purely anecdotal theory is that if she was finding breathing difficult she might panic and pull too hard but if the wind op has relaxed her then she may be transformed.

I am not concerned about her readiness for this race coming from Fergal O’Brien’s permanently in-form yard. Jockey Jack Hogan has been riding plenty of winners for the yard since joining O’Brien in the summer and takes off 6lb.

The Ferry Master is undoubtedly well-handicapped and is young enough to regain momentum in his form. This run might well signal what sort of season he will have.

I will definitely not be backing him until I have seen how he travels in the market immediately before the race as he was notably weak on his reappearance last term and ran as if needing the run. But he has run very well after a break previously.

He hails from a yard where the market is often an indicator. The nine-year-old was well backed for the Scottish National last term but never figured after an early error. This race is much weaker than the Ayr feature and it is difficult to find a rival who doesn’t have questions to answer.

The Ferry Master has fewer negatives than most.

Stuart Coltherd only started running his jumpers in the last week of September after the yard enjoyed a summer break.

Most of the trainer’s runners have gone well on their reappearances and I am confident the very promising Wheelbahri will be ready for this.

After notching a four-timer last season, which began off very lowly mark, he was a beaten favourite on his final start. He still put up a good performance and was probably signalling he had earned a rest.

He got into a good rhythm when scoring over course and distance for the third of his wins and I think he could improve again this term and show the handicapper still hasn’t got the upper hand.