Red Emperor looks set

Red Emperor looks set to strike again for Norman Mason's "red" team at Carlisle today.

His trainer has been enjoying plenty of success of late with the likes of Red Ark, Red Striker and stable-star Red Marauder, who put himself in the Martell Grand National picture with victory at Wetherby.

Red Emperor himself got in on the act at Southwell last month.

An unfancied 16 to 1 shot for a 14-runner handicap chase, he was sent to the front in the early stages by conditional jockey Henry Oliver and stayed there, eventually passing the post three lengths clear of Eco Warrior.

Red Emperor teams up again with 3lb claimer Oliver in today's Stanwix Handicap Chase and the partnership should again be hard to beat.

Mason sets a poser earlier when his assistant Richard Guest rides Damza in the Pioneer Foods Millennium Handicap Chase, taking on stable-companion Xaipete for whom promising claimer Paul Flynn has been booked.

Xaipete looks the better treated at the weights, particularly with his accomplished rider drawing a 5lb allowance.

Given a two-month break after a mid-season loss of form, the eight-year-old was running a good race until unseating his rider at the last on his comeback at Musselburgh last week.

Promising Gunner Welburn can make a successful return to steeplechasing in the Air Wedding Trophy Hunters' Chase at Warwick.

This progressive point-topointer looked the latest star to emerge from Caroline Bailey's stable when he defied a blunder two out to win at Cheltenham last season.

Another jumping error put him on the floor on his reappearance in a point-to-point last month but he is worth another chance today.

Castle Sempill is hard to get away from in the "Showcase" Bet Direct On Racing Channel Text Page 372 Stakes at Wolverhampton.

He won two similar events at Lingfield prior to his second place on the same course last week and is taking on platingclass opposition today.