Can Knomorediamonds sparkle on second handicap start? - analysis and key quotes for Carlisle hurdle

Knomorediamonds, narrowly denied on his first venture into handicaps over the course and distance last month, sets the standard.

Beaten a neck by Blue Fin, he pulled six lengths clear of the third, Mick Maestro, and while it’s unfortunate for connections the handicapper has put him up 4lb, he remains open to improvement.

Strictly Tango graduates to handicaps off a mark of 108 after winning a Sedgefield maiden hurdle by a length and three-quarters from Kingston Narcissus.

The runner-up went close at Sedgefield on Tuesday when finding only Brave Jen a neck too strong and Strictly Tango is likely to prove popular in the market.

Hourless lacks a recent run, but he showed enough in four starts over hurdles for Alan King to suggest he should be highly competitive in this type of contest on his second start for John Dixon.

Diamond Koda makes his first appearance since April with some promising form in bumpers and maiden hurdles to his name. A mark of 106 might not prove beyond him now he goes handicapping. 

The Navigator, a big market drifter when only fifth of eight behind Forged Well at Kelso on Saturday, had previously been in tremendous form over hurdles, winning at Cartmel in July as well as at Kelso and Sedgefield last month.

He was taking advantage of some lenient treatment from the handicapper when recording those three wins, but it’s possible to argue he still has a bit in hand of a rating of 104 and should not be taken lightly if connections decide to run him again.
Analysis by Richard Birch

Ground and weather

The going was described as good, good to soft in places on Sunday. Clerk of the course Harry Phipps said: "It's been a very dry November and we've watered here and there to maintain optimum conditions. We could get a light shower on Sunday but it won't make a material difference to the ground."  

What they say

Lucinda Russell, trainer of Knomorediamonds
He ran really well there last time. It was slightly softer ground that day and he has top weight this time but he seems in great form and he'll run very well.

Richard Newland, joint-trainer of Strictly Tango
We were delighted with his previous win. He's come out of the race well and given his mark it's sensible to go to handicap company. We hope he'll be competitive again. Carlisle is a very different course to Sedgefield but that might actually help him.

John Dixon, trainer of Hourless
He's a nice horse. We gave him a summer off and he's fit and well, but he would have been better off if they hadn't watered.

Nick Kent, trainer of Diamond Koda
He's only had two proper hurdle runs and it's his first run in a handicap but I think he's fairly well treated on his bumper form. He made a couple of mistakes on his last run at Fakenham and he learned a lot from that. We'll see how he handles Carlisle – we're going there because it's the best ground we're going to get this week.

Dianne Sayer, trainer of The Navigator
We'll have to see how he is in the morning as things didn't pan out for him and he disappointed at Kelso on Saturday, but all being well he could run again.
Reporting by David Carr

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