2:25 Carlisle – SILVER FLYER
There are 3 winners in this Novice hurdle, but the horse that makes the most appeal is SILVER FLYER. Donald McCain is having an incredible season and they have been operating at a 40% strike rate in the last 14-days. Silver Flyer won on his 3rd start in Points, the first time that he had completed, by 4-lengths at Umma House in October and the switch to Donald McCain from Donnchadh Doyle paid immediate dividends when he won on his hurdles debut at Catterick in December. Having raced prominently on the inside, he made his move off the home bend and was driven home by Brian Hughes to win with something in hand. The 2nd placed horse, Where’s Hector, who was 9-lengths behind Silver Flyer at Catterick, has run well at Wetherby since to boost the form. The stiff finish at Carlisle should really suit Silver Flyer, who will almost certainly stay 3-miles in time, and he looks to have more potential for improvement than his main rivals.
7:30 Newcastle – MONTINEY
There is a definite mid-winter feel to this Novice race and whilst Chelmsford winner High Velocity may prove hard to beat under his penalty, both he and the others in this field don’t set the bar particularly high and so it is worth chancing the newcomer MONTINEY. Karl Burke has a 14% strike rate with his 3-year-olds in 5-furlong all-weather sprints and there is hope in the pedigree of Montiney to suggest he could have enough ability to make his presence felt in this field. His dam Arculinge has produced 4 winning progeny, most notably Charles Molson, who reached a peak OR of 100 and won on his only start at Newcastle. Most of his pedigree suggests he is bred to be a sprinter and, in a race, where he may not need to run beyond a mark of 70 to play a hand, he is worth chancing.
