Sunday tips from Dave Nevison: three bets at Carlisle

I Am Max has run well on more than one occasion without winning when I have backed him, including when the rest of Sandy Thomson’s runners were largely out of form. 

I believe that if things had been going well for the yard, this gelding would have ended up with a much higher mark, and he could be beginning his chasing venture on an attractive rating. 

He jumped well on his return to fences last time out at Hexham, but definitely seemed to run out of steam up that steepest of hills late on, and only won by a neck. 

I expect him to be fully fit for this assignment, and I think he will follow up in what is an interesting contest. 

I backed this mare when she won the BetVictor British EBF "National Hunt" Mares' Novices' Hurdle at Newbury in March, and while she landed the spoils there, it certainly felt a long run in as she had hit the front halfway up the straight, and was definitely either green or losing concentration in the final 100 yards! 

I thought she was a convincing winner of what is always a competitive contest, and the handicapper hasn’t overreacted by raising her 6lb. 

She is taking on geldings here, but I think she is a six-year-old with a bright future, and if she has taken a step forward from that outing since, she should win more handicaps this season. 

Several of these contenders appear to be using this as a stepping stone towards marathon targets later in the season, but Inis Oirr has race fitness as an advantage after his recent return over three miles at this track. 

The Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore-trained gelding is 16lb lower than the rating he started on last season, and showed his best form for a good while on his latest outing. 

Provided he continues in the same vein of form, he could be ready to exploit his falling mark and win races again this season. Derek Fox is also a positive jockey booking.