Carlisle gets goes ahead

Sunday's meeting at Carlisle goes ahead as planned after the track passed an inspection on Saturday morning.

Officials had planned to check conditions at 9am but were able to give the go-ahead earlier than expected as temperatures had risen sufficiently, allowing the frozen patches of ground to thaw.

The ground is reported to soft, heavy in places ahead of a seven-race card that features the Listed Houghton Mares' Chase and the four finals of the Northern Lights series.

Benie Des Dieux travels to Carlisle to make her long-awaited return to action on Sunday.

The French import made a huge impression on her first start for Willie Mullins at Limerick last Christmas when she jumped her rivals senseless on her way to a 30-length success in the hands of Paul Townend.

Mullins has saddled just one previous runner at the Cumbria circuit, with Grade One-winning mare Gitane Du Berlais a beaten odds-on favourite in this Listed contest in 2015.

Benie Des Dieux will be a warm order to right that wrong in the Houghton Mares' Chase.

Leading owner Rich Ricci, who has never had a runner at Carlisle, told At The Races: "Benie Des Dieux is a lovely mare. Her jumping display at Limerick was sensational.

"She is a mare I am very, very excited about. She could be, in the proverbial way, anything.

"I wouldn't mind her taking on the boys, the girls, whoever it is. I can't wait to see her out.

"She is something to look forward to."

Benie Des Dieux faces four rivals over two and a half miles, including the Donald McCain-trained Lastbutnotleast .

The seven-year-old carried the colours of Red Rum to three victories over hurdles last term, completing her hat-trick with a Listed success at Doncaster in March, and now makes her chasing debut.

McCain said: "Obviously we'd prefer to be running in novice company, but it is what it is.

"It was either run in an ordinary novice against the boys or stick to mares and that's what we've opted for.

"She's ready to start and she's schooled well. She really wants three miles but she'll love the ground, so fingers crossed she gets a clear round and runs a nice race."

Lastbutnotleast was the last horse bought by the late Ginger McCain, Donald's father, before he died in in 2011.

Stuart Crawford's Verona Opera is a second Irish challenger, while Micky Hammond's C araline and the Anthony Honeyball-trained Tacenda complete the line-up.