Carlisle Tips: Spot On Soph to continue good form

It's a relatively busy Monday of racing action in Britain as the new week begins, with four meetings set to take place.

There's a trio of afternoon National Hunt cards and our focus here is up north, with Carlisle racing from 12.35-15.50 as their seven-race card is set to go on ground forecast as 'Soft-heavy in places on chase course' pending an 8am raceday inspection.

We have three fancies, including the mare Spot On Soph for Sam and Jonathan England.

13:40 Carlisle – Spot On Soph @ 2/1

This Mares' Handicap Hurdle over 2m1f looks a good chance for in-form SPOT ON SOPH to get her head in front again for the Sam and Jonathan England team.

The Walk In The Park mare was winless in eight outings last season but took advantage of a reduced mark to score back over hurdles at Market Rasen (2m2½f, good to soft) in August after a short break.

She has backed up that run with placed efforts at the same track, Cartmel and Sedgefield since, finishing second-best on her two most recent starts over 2m6f/2m4f.

She was beaten only by a progressive type at Sedgefield on her latest start last month and the Phil Kirby-trained winner has obliged again since.

Jonjo O'Neill's handicap debutante All The Glory is a potential danger to the selection but she's got 12st to carry here and might be worth taking on.

14:15 Carlisle – Inedit Star @ 10/3

The Novices' Limited Handicap Chase that is race four on the Carlisle card is likely to see Crebilly proving popular in the market for the Jonjo O'Neill father/son axis. He was a useful hurdler last season and should make into a decent chaser but French import INEDIT STAR is a lively alternative on stable bow for Nick Kent.

He twice won bumpers on testing ground in France before moving to Tom George last year in this country and after some fair showings here, he went back to France in May and won over hurdles on heavy ground in very easy fashion at this sort of trip.

What that form is worth remains to be seen but he led his rivals a merry dance and conditions underfoot won't be any kind of hindrance now.

Kielan Woods rides on this fencing bow and, getting 4lb from Crebilly, he could well upset the forecast market leader.

15:20 Carlisle – William Of York @ 4/1

Stable-changer WILLIAM OF YORK is a very interesting contender for Rebecca Menzies in this handicap chase over two-and-a-half-miles in the hands of Nathan Moscrop.

Formerly with Dan Skelton, he improved for the switch to handicaps over hurdles in the spring, notching a hat-trick at Wetherby, Huntingdon and Warwick over trips from 2m-2m4½f.

He showed a fondness for front-running in that sequence but was nothing but game when challenged late on and showed a real will to win.

This opening mark over fences looks very fair and, if he takes to jumping these larger obstacles, he can once more prove a tough nut to crack when it matters most.

Check out the rest of our Horse Racing Tips here.