Carlisle and Salisbury preview: Ginger Jack looks tasty in Carlisle Bell

The gelding was a dual winner as a juvenile when trained by Sir Michael Stoute but then lost his way and joined Tim Easterby.

Mukhayyam started life off with his new handler off a rating of 91, but is now able to race off just 82.

That is a career-low and the four-year-old has shaped as if coming to hand in his last two starts, finishing sixth of 13 to Firmament at Newcastle before an excellent 1 3/4 length fourth of 10 to Pandora in a class 3 contest at York earlier in the month.

Mukhayyam stayed on nicely in the latter from off the pace, and is now able to race in this lower grade class 4 affair off 1lb lower.

It gives the son of Dark Angel a big chance from a handicapping perspective and, if the fitting of the cheekpieces for the first time have the desired effect, Mukhayyam looks weighted to get back to winning ways.

Carlisle selections

14.00: Alicante Dawn
14.30: Burrishoole Abbey
15.00: Chiswick Bey
15.35: Ginger Jack (NAP)
16.10: Opal Tiara
16.40: Mukhayyam (NB)
17.10: Normandie Lady

Next to take centre Stage at Salisbury

Next Stage ran a blinder when runner-up on seasonal reappearance and looks a worthy favourite to go one better in the 1m handicap on today’s card at Salisbury (16.50).

The Saeed bin Suroor trained colt looked a smart prospect and one to keep onside when making a winning debut on the all-weather at Lingfield back in November, and confirmed that view when chasing home Defrocked in a competitive 14-runner handicap at Doncaster earlier in the month.

After dwelling at the start and held-up in mid division, Next Stage got hampered a furlong from home when making good headway before keeping on nicely to be beaten two lengths.

The winner has since gone on to land the valuable Britannia Stakes at Royal Ascot, and the pair pulled 3 3/4 lengths clear of the field.

That gives the form a rock solid look, and Next Stage remains unexposed and open to stacks more progress.

The son of Dubawi has also secured a good draw in stall 13, and with James Doyle in the saddle can take this en route to better things.

Dell’ Arca weighted to deliver

In the 1m 6f handicap (16.20), Dell’ Arca can cash-in off what looks a lenient mark to land the spoils.

The gelding won a flat race at Le Mans in France back in December 2012, after which he joined trainer David Pipe for a campaign over hurdles.

Dell’ Arca developed into a very smart performer over the obstacles, winning twice to be rated 145 at his peak.

The seven-year-old now reverts to the level off a lowly handicap mark of just 78, and that makes him potentially thrown-in at the weights.

Dell’ Arca also has the services of Ryan Moore in the saddle, and Pipe is a master at switching his horses between codes to exploit the handicapping system.

Salisbury selections

14.10: Sea Fox
14.40: Swendab
15.10: Groupie
15.45: Combative
16.20: Dell’ Arca (NB)
16.50: Next Stage (NAP)
17.20: Wave Reviews

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