Racing betting tips: Wednesday June 26

0.5pts e.w Simple Star in the 3.05 Carlisle at 25/1 (Bet365 – 1/5 1,2,3,4 – no lower)

1pt e.w Al Rufaa in the 4.40 Carlisle at 16/1 (General 1/5 1,2,3,4,5 – min 12/1)

Sky Bet odds | Paddy Power | Betfair Sportsbook

It’s a big day at Carlisle on Wednesday with the running of both the Cumberland Plate and Carlisle Bell handicaps, two races with a long association with the area, particularly the latter. The Plate looks pretty tough, but I’m a forgiving sort and am willing to ignore a couple of poor runs from SIMPLE STAR in better class races. Dianne Sayer’s gelding had been really progressive last season, winning three times at around this trip on a sound surface, and he looked as good as ever when runner-up on his return to action at Musselburgh before a couple of excusable flops, going off too hard in a 0-95 event at Hamilton last time.

Jason Hart has been on board for Simple Star’s last three good efforts so it must be a plus that he returns to the saddle now, and there aren’t many others who will go forward early in this 1m3f event, making his wide draw moot, if not an advantage. He does need to bounce back to his best to win, but he went down by just a neck off this mark at Musselburgh in April, and three of the four immediately behind him that day have won handicaps subsequently. Backing him requires a leap of faith but the odds are extremely tempting, and victory for the locally trained gelding, who races in the colours of the late Peter Montheith’s widow Doreen, would be very popular.

The consolation race is of limited interest with not enough balloted out of the main contest to make it compelling, but the Carlisle Bell doesn’t disappoint, with a field of 17 including a good number with winning form in similar conditions. The pace looks more assured than in the Cumberland Plate with four of the field having made the running on their most recent starts. Of those, Mostawaa is the most reliable pacemaker and he won this race last year, so merits respect. The others won’t allow him an easy lead and that should guarantee the strong pace that ensures a true result.

AL RUFAA was too free when making the running at Sandown last time, and that run can be ignored. He will be happier getting a lead here and is best when getting a sound gallop, which enables him to settle better. In truth, he’s only had a really quick gallop to run at once since joining Daniel and Claire Kubler, and on that occasion, he ran out a really impressive winner at Wolverhampton in November off a mark of 82. He’s 3lb higher than for that win now but has eased a little in the weights for recent defeats over longer trips which have not shown him to best effect and is the type to bounce back sooner rather than later, particularly dropping in trip.

Preview posted 1020 BST on 26/06/24

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