Carlisle afternoon racing tips: Best bets for Thursday, August 31
Carlisle racecourse
Carlisle brings us some afternoon racing on Thursday, August 31 and the Planet Sport tipsters are on the hunt for some more big winners.
We begin with some info on our selected horses, then you can get a full list of all the tips from Carlisle at the bottom of the page.
Don't forget to check out the Carlisle racecard, results and live odds in Planet Sport's racing live centre.
Good luck and please gamble responsibly.
(Please be aware selections could become non-runners after article's first publication)
14:45 (Carlisle) War Defender
War Defender was second off this mark over 1m1f at Musselburgh three weeks ago and he could be hard to stop in a race of this nature if repeating that performance.
Turbo Command has been running well in defeat of late and is likely to be in the mix once again, while Retirement Beckons and Bulls Aye are the pick of the remainder.
15:15 (Carlisle) Alaskan Gold
Alaskan Gold can provide trainer Karl Burke with yet another juvenile success in the Shepherd Chartered Surveyors EBF Novice Stakes.
The Spigot Lodge handler has been firing on all cylinders with his two-year-olds this season, with his current tally of winners from his youngest crop totalling more than 40.
Alaskan Gold has had to make do with minor honours in his first couple of races, but has shown more than enough to suggest it is only a matter of time before he eventually gets his head in front.
The son of Kodiac was third on his Nottingham debut behind subsequent Richmond Stakes and Prix Morny winner Vandeek and occupied the same position on his second start at Goodwood.
The Goodwood winner Mansa Musa has since gone close in a Group Three in Ireland, while the runner-up Array bolted up on his next appearance at Newmarket.
Alaskan Gold will not need to improve much, if at all, on his first couple of efforts to get off the mark at the third attempt.
16:15 (Carlisle) Vice Captain
A switch to handicap company can see Vice Captain break his duck in the Racing TV Nursery.
George Scott's youngster has run six times so far and has not yet finished out of the first four, coming closest to victory when beaten less than a length into second at Nottingham in June.
The petrol gauge looked to run to empty when fourth over a mile at Chelmsford last time and a step back to seven furlongs looks a wise move. An opening perch of 68 looks fair for this consistent type.
17:20 (Carlisle) Where's Jeff
Highwaygrey wasn't disgraced in sixth at Doncaster last time and he will appreciate this drop in grade after he was kindly dropped 2lb from the handicapper for that effort.
However, preference is for course winner Where's Jeff, who has hit the crossbar the last twice over 1m2f at Beverley and he should have no issue with the slight step back in trip here.
Ayr Poet has won two out of his last three and should also be considered.
Carlisle selections in full:
CARLISLE: 2.45 War Defender, 3.15 Alaskan Gold, 3.45 Utilis, 4.15 Vice Captain, 4.48 Vixey, 5.20 Where's Jeff
