The late and unexpected withdrawal of ante-post favourite Bigirononthehip from the Eider Chase has thrown the race wide open.

Proven stayers like the mud-loving Prime Venture will now be well fancied, but the door has been opened for Glittering Love.

Owned by Paul and Clare Rooney and trained at Greystoke by Nicky Richards, the gelding ran up a winning four-timer last season.

He has yet to score this time around but after a fall on his reappearance at Newcastle before Christmas, he has put in a couple of clear rounds and stamina is his strongest suit.

Richards won the Eider two seasons ago with the ill-fated Baywing and Glittering Love would be an appropriate winner in his memory.

Brian Hughes is likely to take the ride and, currently quoted at prices around 16/1, Glittering Love is good value.

One notes that Langholm’s James Ewart has pencilled in Bingo d’Olivate for the opener at Newcastle. The Langholm novice was clearly a most unlucky loser at Carlisle on Monday and connections must be tempted to recoup losses.

It was a case of very well done to all at Carlisle, particularly the unstinting efforts of the groundstaff which enabled Monday’s racing to go ahead.

Many racecourses would have viewed the weather warnings and abandoned at the weekend, but not Carlisle and their decision to switch to an all-hurdles card was rewarded with a competitive card and a less demanding test than was anticipated.

Storm Dennis actually provided Cumbrian and Border trainers with an opportunity to race without the big battalions from the south and the trend was set from the outset with Brian Hughes and Ewart landing the opener with the odds-on Sao Maxience.

The same combination appeared to have carried off the last race with Bingo D’Olivate, who avoided the dramatic falls at the third last to canter home unchallenged, only for the clerk of the scales to lodge an objection as Hughes had weighed in 5lbs light.

Disqualification was inevitable, though the stewards clearly took an understanding view as Hughes received a token ban of three days and Ewart was fined £750.

The most interesting runner in the first race had to be Diodorus having his first outing for Tristan Davidson.

Trained on the flat by Karen McLintock, he earned a rating of 72 and was making his hurdles debut for the Irthington stable.

Backed down from 8/1 to 9/2 shortly before the off, Diodorus was settled towards the rear by Harry Reed until making eye-catching headway to go second in the run for home. This was an encouraging first appearance over obstacles.

The most impressive display of the afternoon from a local perspective had to be the success of the Dixon family’s Captain Zebo, who was making his return to action after a year’s absence and set to carry a substantial weight on his handicap debut.

Captain Zebo drifted in the market and was slow into his stride but once John Dixon Jnr asked him to go about his business, he stormed through on the outside and despite a clumsy leap at the second last lost little momentum and galloped clear again to score going away.

The handicapper will not have missed this display and Captain Zebo’s immediate future is likely to be over fences.

He has already been schooled and jumps well.

Dianne Sayer saddled Calliope to win the penultimate race. The mare has been placed no less than 14 times and receives no leniency from the handicapper.

She showed real grit at Carlisle however and Sayer reckons that the uphill finish acted in her favour.