Bell tolls for Phillip Makin with notable Carlisle double
By Racing TV
Last Updated: Wed 24 Jun 2026
Phillip Makin completed the rare feat of both riding and training the winner of the Stablemate By Agma Carlisle Bell after saddling Priapos to win the historic prize on Wednesday.
The £30,000 contest is one of the Cumbrian track’s most prestigious races, with the two bells on offer to the winner reputed to be the oldest sporting trophy in the world, having first been presented in 1599 when Queen Elizabeth I was on the throne.
Makin was victorious in the saddle aboard the Keith Dalgleish-trained Edgar Balthazar 10 years ago and got his name on the winner’s board again, as recent course and distance winner Priapos (12-1) got the better of a duel with 9-4 favourite Leadenhall by half a length.
“He looks an improved horse this year to be fair and a stiff track and a good gallop suits him, as he does stay the mile very well,” said Makin.
“We tried the cheekpieces before and it didn’t work out for him, but I’ve always thought he wanted them on and it worked today as he travelled better than he’s probably ever done.
“I actually have a picture in my downstairs loo of when I won this race on Edgar Balthazar and won the Cumberland Plate the same day on another horse of Keith’s called Sindarban.
“The Carlisle Bell is always a competitive race, as it’s good prize-money for the grade and it takes a bit of winning.”
Makin, now training in Middleham after renting part of Jedd O’Keeffe’s yard, also had news of his Woodcote Stakes winner Hickory Lad, who is set for a step up to Group-race company in the coming weeks.
He added: “We’ve only got 16 or 17 horses, but they all seem to be running well. We’re in a great location, a lovely place and it all seems to be working.
“Hickory Lad is great – he’s come out of Epsom really well and worked on Tuesday and it’s the best I’ve ever seen him work.
“If the ground is OK I think he’ll go to Newmarket for the July Stakes.”
The Harry Charlton-trained Wine Dark Sea turned the Stablemate By Agma Cumberland Plate into a procession in the hands of Lewis Edmunds.
A 5-6 favourite to follow up victory at Ascot in early May, odds-on backers will have had few concerns as he arrived on the scene travelling strongly before powering 13 lengths clear of the chasing pack.
“He’s a lovely horse, very straightforward and I got a lovely sit and a nice lead as I thought they went a pretty solid gallop throughout, which definitely suited him,” said Edmunds.
“He stayed very well round here today and when he won at Ascot he stayed very well. He seems to like these stiff tracks, so I don’t see why he couldn’t stay a bit further.”
Geoff Oldroyd’s 320,000 guineas yearling purchase In The Black (13-2) made a winning debut in the Get Best Odds With Oddschecker Maiden Stakes under PJ McDonald, while Ruby Moon (4-1) also made a successful start to her career in the Bet Smarter With Oddschecker+ EBF Fillies’ Novice Stakes.
The latter quickened up smartly for Oisin Orr to beat the more experienced 8-11 favourite Silesia by a length and a quarter and is seemingly held in high regard.
Peter Fahey, who trains the juvenile in partnership with his father, Richard, said: “We like this filly a lot and she’s gone and done it now. It’s a pedigree that keeps giving us luck thanks to Mr (Richard) Henry’s breeding, so we’re pleased with her.
“She’s done it nice and straightforward. We’ll get her home and make a decision about where we go.”
Orr doubled up aboard Hugo Palmer’s 100-30 shot Mia Fantasia in the Download The Oddschecker App EBF Restricted Maiden Stakes.
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