Carlisle
National Hunt
Blackwell, Cumbria · Britain’s northernmost jumps track
Turf
Right-Handed
Galloping
Track Breakdown
Carlisle’s jumps courses share the same pear-shaped, right-handed footprint as the Flat track — a galloping circuit of around a mile and five furlongs with easy turns but a genuinely stiff finish. The ground drops away from about a mile and three out before climbing into an uphill run of just over three furlongs, easing only in the final fifty yards, and that hill does far more to sort out form than the obstacles themselves: Carlisle’s fences are widely described as among the easiest in the country. The result is jumps racing that tests stamina and tactical placement more than jumping technique — often a genuinely tactical, “last horse standing” affair once the winter ground turns testing.
Uniquely among British tracks, Carlisle runs two separate hurdles circuits inside the chase course: the original outer course and a newer inner course, opened in 2012 and named for retiring groundsman Tony Wootton. Both inherit the same uphill finish. As on the Flat side, Carlisle sits on exposed, elevated ground open to Irish Sea and Solway Firth weather, making it unusually prone to abandonment, and its running rail is moved regularly to protect the surface.
The Chase Course
- Circuit Right-handed, pear-shaped, ~1m5f — shares the Flat course’s footprint
- Fences 9 per circuit, widely described as among the easiest in Britain; one open ditch sited on the run down into the home straight
- Run-in Just over three furlongs, uphill — the same stiff finish as the Flat course, easing only in the final fifty yards
- Run style A stamina and tactical-placement test rather than a jumping test — races can become genuinely tactical in testing ground
Two Hurdle Courses
- Layout Uniquely, Carlisle runs two separate hurdles circuits inside the chase course
- Hurdles 6 flights per circuit on each course
- The newer course Opened in 2012, named after retiring groundsman Tony Wootton
- Run style Both courses share the same uphill finish as the chase circuit and the Flat track
The Racing Calendar
The Number That Matters
Carlisle is one of the more data-rich jumps tracks for pace analysis, though the picture genuinely varies by trip and code. In handicap chases, front-runners are favoured across most distances, and the edge sharpens considerably on soft or heavy ground at 2m4f-2m5f — a win rate above 25% at an A/E of 1.94, dropping to under 17% on good ground. Hold-up horses fare worst at the longer 3m2f trip specifically.
Run Style Bias — Handicap Chases (2m–3m2f)
─ Strong
─ Competitive
─ Weakest at long trips
That front-running edge is strongest at 2m4f-2m5f on soft or heavy ground specifically (25%+ win rate, A/E 1.94) and fades on quicker going. Handicap hurdles tell a genuinely different story by trip: front-runners hold a clear advantage at 2m1f, the picture is roughly level at 2m4f (where leading horses actually slightly underperform), and it swings decisively toward hold-up horses at 3m1f, who post the best strike rate and A/E figure of any style at that distance. Chases and hurdles diverge here more than at most tracks — check the specific trip and code before leaning on a single running-style angle.
Top Trainers & Jockeys
| Trainer | Runs | Wins | Win% | Places | Place% | A/E | P/L |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 McCain Jnr, D | 627 | 102 | 16.27% | 247 | 39.39% | 0.81 | -200.62 |
| 2 Richards, N G | 315 | 73 | 23.17% | 136 | 43.17% | 1.28 | +94.52 |
| 3 Smith, Mrs S J | 361 | 45 | 12.47% | 109 | 30.19% | 0.88 | -96.99 |
| 4 Russell, Miss Lucinda V | 513 | 43 | 8.38% | 137 | 26.71% | 0.60 | -203.81 |
| 5 O’Neill, Jonjo and AJ | 196 | 40 | 20.41% | 79 | 40.31% | 0.92 | +14.20 |
| 6 Hammond, Micky | 318 | 32 | 10.06% | 73 | 22.96% | 1.00 | -59.10 |
| 7 Menzies, Rebecca | 180 | 23 | 12.78% | 50 | 27.78% | 1.16 | +25.31 |
| 8 Thomson, A M | 162 | 21 | 12.96% | 50 | 30.86% | 0.86 | +12.49 |
| 9 Ellison, B | 137 | 21 | 15.33% | 53 | 38.69% | 0.84 | -28.34 |
| 10 Williams, Miss Venetia | 98 | 21 | 21.43% | 35 | 35.71% | 0.91 | +3.63 |
| 11 Alexander, N W | 214 | 20 | 9.35% | 52 | 24.30% | 0.76 | -51.94 |
| 12 Coltherd, W S | 191 | 20 | 10.47% | 55 | 28.80% | 0.82 | -42.84 |
| 13 Dobbin, Mrs R | 167 | 20 | 11.98% | 47 | 28.14% | 0.91 | -58.42 |
| 14 Skelton, Daniel | 95 | 20 | 21.05% | 43 | 45.26% | 0.85 | -13.66 |
| 15 Crawford, S R B | 94 | 20 | 21.28% | 41 | 43.62% | 1.02 | -23.61 |
| 16 Twiston-Davies, N A | 82 | 20 | 24.39% | 38 | 46.34% | 0.98 | -0.08 |
| 17 Hamilton, Mrs A | 80 | 18 | 22.50% | 30 | 37.50% | 1.26 | -3.62 |
| 18 Swinbank, G A | 80 | 18 | 22.50% | 36 | 45.00% | 1.08 | +10.94 |
| 19 Moffatt, James | 122 | 17 | 13.93% | 33 | 27.05% | 1.22 | -5.21 |
| 20 Kirby, P A | 142 | 16 | 11.27% | 30 | 21.13% | 1.06 | -19.67 |
| Jockey | Runs | Wins | Win% | Places | Place% | A/E | P/L |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Hughes, Brian | 701 | 118 | 16.83% | 289 | 41.23% | 0.87 | -192.60 |
| 2 McMenamin, Daniel | 221 | 41 | 18.55% | 80 | 36.20% | 1.23 | -5.99 |
| 3 Quinlan, Sean | 374 | 38 | 10.16% | 110 | 29.41% | 0.83 | -174.04 |
| 4 Mania, Ryan | 239 | 28 | 11.72% | 70 | 29.29% | 0.92 | +13.27 |
| 5 Harding, Brian | 196 | 28 | 14.29% | 58 | 29.59% | 1.06 | -35.85 |
| 6 Maguire, Jason | 126 | 26 | 20.63% | 52 | 41.27% | 0.75 | -49.63 |
| 7 Brooke, Henry | 301 | 24 | 7.97% | 73 | 24.25% | 0.68 | -139.93 |
| 8 Cook, Danny | 150 | 23 | 15.33% | 49 | 32.67% | 0.92 | -36.13 |
| 9 O’Neill, Jonjo (Jr) | 96 | 23 | 23.96% | 43 | 44.79% | 0.99 | +4.39 |
| 10 Renwick, Wilson | 144 | 22 | 15.28% | 52 | 36.11% | 1.15 | +12.58 |
| 11 Skelton, Harry | 93 | 22 | 23.66% | 44 | 47.31% | 0.94 | -2.41 |
| 12 Twiston-Davies, Sam | 89 | 22 | 24.72% | 43 | 48.31% | 1.05 | -8.56 |
| 13 Johnson, Richard | 77 | 22 | 28.57% | 46 | 59.74% | 1.01 | +2.44 |
| 14 Nichol, Craig | 249 | 21 | 8.43% | 67 | 26.91% | 0.71 | -134.59 |
| 15 O’Farrell, C | 172 | 20 | 11.63% | 42 | 24.42% | 1.08 | +8.63 |
| 16 McCoy, A P | 62 | 20 | 32.26% | 33 | 53.23% | 1.13 | -6.06 |
| 17 Reveley, James | 128 | 18 | 14.06% | 42 | 32.81% | 1.11 | +18.12 |
| 18 Kennedy, W T | 83 | 18 | 21.69% | 36 | 43.37% | 1.15 | +24.07 |
| 19 Hamilton, Jamie | 181 | 17 | 9.39% | 42 | 23.20% | 1.01 | -3.84 |
| 20 Chapman, Ross | 174 | 16 | 9.20% | 43 | 24.71% | 0.95 | -47.02 |
Top Sires
| Sire | Runs | Wins | Win% | Places | Place% | A/E | P/L |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Flemensfirth (USA) | 267 | 45 | 16.85% | 105 | 39.33% | 0.91 | -89.92 |
| 2 Milan | 273 | 30 | 10.99% | 83 | 30.40% | 0.73 | -118.08 |
| 3 Oscar (IRE) | 151 | 26 | 17.22% | 46 | 30.46% | 1.07 | -24.90 |
| 4 Gold Well | 126 | 23 | 18.25% | 46 | 36.51% | 1.11 | +69.52 |
| 5 Kayf Tara | 139 | 22 | 15.83% | 40 | 28.78% | 0.91 | -19.04 |
| 6 Court Cave (IRE) | 128 | 20 | 15.62% | 40 | 31.25% | 1.08 | +17.09 |
| 7 Martaline | 93 | 20 | 21.51% | 39 | 41.94% | 1.23 | +51.27 |
| 8 Presenting | 210 | 19 | 9.05% | 64 | 30.48% | 0.63 | -112.51 |
| 9 Westerner | 131 | 19 | 14.50% | 41 | 31.30% | 0.87 | -18.99 |
| 10 Beneficial | 146 | 17 | 11.64% | 48 | 32.88% | 0.79 | -51.47 |
| 11 Getaway (GER) | 132 | 16 | 12.12% | 33 | 25.00% | 0.78 | -42.94 |
| 12 Shantou (USA) | 83 | 16 | 19.28% | 31 | 37.35% | 0.98 | -2.36 |
| 13 Midnight Legend | 104 | 14 | 13.46% | 38 | 36.54% | 0.95 | -4.74 |
| 14 Cloudings (IRE) | 95 | 12 | 12.63% | 29 | 30.53% | 0.89 | -43.46 |
| 15 King’s Theatre (IRE) | 81 | 12 | 14.81% | 26 | 32.10% | 0.77 | -30.46 |
| 16 Scorpion (IRE) | 93 | 11 | 11.83% | 26 | 27.96% | 0.83 | -27.04 |
| 17 Alflora (IRE) | 84 | 11 | 13.10% | 24 | 28.57% | 1.12 | -19.50 |
| 18 Mahler | 118 | 10 | 8.47% | 29 | 24.58% | 0.57 | -54.54 |
| 19 Shirocco (GER) | 96 | 10 | 10.42% | 23 | 23.96% | 0.68 | +21.32 |
| 20 Fame And Glory | 73 | 10 | 13.70% | 26 | 35.62% | 0.81 | -18.88 |
Betting Angles
Nicky Richards Is the Clear Local Specialist
Greystoke-based, just 15 miles south, with a strike rate 10-15 points above his national average and a two-generation family history at the track.
Danny McMenamin Stands Out in the Saddle
An 18.2% strike rate from 159 rides (29 winners) at A/E 1.24 for a level-stakes profit — a genuine value angle, and stronger still over fences.
The Hill Decides More Than the Fences Do
Carlisle’s fences are among the easiest in the country — it’s the same stiff, uphill run-in that defines the Flat course doing the heavy lifting over jumps too.
Chases and Hurdles Read Differently Here
Front-runners are consistently favoured over fences, strongest at 2m4f-2m5f on soft or heavy ground, but the hurdles course flips at longer trips, with hold-up horses on top at 3m1f.
Watch the Ground Closely
Carlisle’s exposed position means conditions can be wetter than reports suggest — and soft or heavy going sharpens the front-running bias over fences considerably.
Two Hurdle Courses, Not One
The newer inner course (opened 2012) and the original outer course both operate at the track — worth bearing in mind when comparing recent form.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Assuming a single pace-bias rule applies across all trips and both jumping codes. Chases and hurdles diverge, and even within chases the front-running edge is strongest at 2m4f-2m5f on soft or heavy ground specifically, not a fixed constant.
- Repeating a “bird flu closure” claim for Carlisle. No such closure was found; the verified closure was foot-and-mouth in 2001.
- Treating the fences as a stern test. They’re among the easiest in the country — it’s the stiff, uphill finish that does the real work of sorting out form.
Carlisle Racecourse FAQs
Does Carlisle host any Graded jumps races?
Is there a genuine pace bias at Carlisle over jumps?
Why does Carlisle have two hurdle courses?
Who is the standout trainer at Carlisle over jumps?
Other Jumps Tracks
Want the thinking behind National Hunt bets?
FormDial posts every selection before the off with its full reasoning: the angle, the price, the logic. See how course analysis feeds into real selections.
The Trackside Companion is your day at the races, written to order — every race on your meeting’s card broken down, plus this track’s draw, angles and people distilled from the guide you’ve just read. Order at least a week before your raceday.
Plan your raceday →