UP MY ALLY!

Sam's ready to Steel nice Carlisle prize

- JASON HEAVEY RACING EDITOR AND CHIEF TIPSTER

STEEL ALLY (2.15, nap) can be the punters' pal at Carlisle today.

His trainer Sam Thomas (below) is in fantastic form with five of his last nine runners winning.

That 56 per cent strike rate should improve when his seven-year-old makes his chasing debut in the Weatherbys NHStallions.co.uk Graduation Chase.

Thomas believes the son of Doctor Dino will make a better chaser than hurdler - and he was very useful over the smaller obstacles.