15:05 Cartmel

Saturday 22 July 2017

All13:5514:3015:0515:4016:1516:5017:25

totepool Cumbria Crystal Cup Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:05 | Winning time: 5m 39.15s

Altruism²²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Charlotte Jones⁽¹⁰⁾| T: James Moffatt| OR: 134| C

11/1

Previous course winner, but was unable to follow up his 2016 success when only eighth of eleven to stablemate Lough Kent in a 2m1f handicap hurdle last month. Yet to show he's anywhere near his best since coming back from a break, and this trip is a major concern.

Form: U/112-P8

Nautical Nitwit¹⁰⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: Thomas Dowson⁽⁵⁾| T: P A Kirby| OR: 133

16/1

Driven out to take a 3m handicap hurdle at Southwell in February on his penultimate start, and remains 4lb higher. No fears with regards forecast conditions, and down the field in a competitive handicap at Aintree latest, but his current mark demands a career best performance.

Form: 8F2810-

Doubly Clever¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: M G Nolan| T: M Blake| OR: 128

8/1

Five time career winner, but never beyond 2m4f. Arrives seeking a hat-trick following victories at Newton Abbot (2m2f) and Worcester (2m4f). Arguably a 6lb rise for those two successes is lenient, but he didn't have much in hand latest and this is a stronger contest.

Form: 3544-11

Royal Village⁵⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 127

3/1

Improving with racing over hurdles, and has landed a couple of novice contests back to back at Perth (2m4f good) and Worcester (2m7f good). That latest Worcester victory was the most aesthetically pleasing and its feasible that the extended trip was a primary factor, but this mark presents a new challenge on handicap debut.

Form: 13221-1

Boruma²²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: B S Hughes| T: James Moffatt| OR: 125| CD

4/1

Arrives in rude health on a hat-trick following C&D victories in May and June (both good to soft). Up 8lb for his latest 2¼L defeat of Tawseef which will make life tougher, but respected.

Form: 767-411

Petrou³¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Bridget Andrews⁽³⁾| T: D Skelton| OR: 125| D

9/2

Unbeaten in four starts since joining the Skelton's from Ben Case. Has risen 21lb in the weights for victories at Stratford, Southwell, Aintree and Uttoxeter (three of those races coming within eight days). Back over hurdles now with his latest success coming in a novices handicap chase, but this prize is the lure.

Form: 72-1111

Cleni Wells^h⁴⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Charlie Deutsch⁽³⁾| T: M Hill| OR: 122

7/1

Improved for the fitting of a hood, and recorded a second success in four starts when scoring by a neck at Newton Abbot in early June (2m2f good to soft). Stamina an unknown and up 5lb, but soft ground is a plus.

Form: 0213-21

Gran Maestro^b¹¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-7| J: Ryan Winks⁽⁵⁾| T: P Winks| OR: 115

12/1

Not won since July 2015 (2m Listed Summer Hurdle at Market Rasen for Dr Richard Newland), and joined this trainer after running in a selling hurdle in August 2016. Slow progress initially this year, but gradually working back to form and a runner up the past twice against fairly handy rivals, but a 3lb rise if off-putting.

Form: 2-34623

Idder^p⁷²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-6| J: Henry Brooke| T: James Moffatt| OR: 114

10/1

Twice a winner already in 2017, and also extremely consistent in his other three outings. Held on well to defeat Trafalgar Rock by 1L in a three runner affair at Carlisle last month (2m1f). Unraced over this trip so far and encounters softer ground today.

Form: 31423-1

Non-Runners

Allbarnone⁵⁴

Weight: 10-12| Age: 9

T: W Kinsey J: G Sheehan

Mr Boss Man¹⁶

Weight: 10-11| Age: 9

T: N Slevin J: Rachael Blackmore

Forecasts

Royal Village (3/1), Boruma (4/1), Petrou (9/2), Cleni Wells (7/1), Doubly Clever (8/1), Idder (10/1), Altruism (11/1), Gran Maestro (12/1), Nautical Nitwit (16/1), Mr Boss Man (25/1), Allbarnone (25/1)

A strong line up as one would expect for the centre-piece of the entire season at Cartmel. The £27,000 Cumbria Crystal Cup is the most valuable race run at the Lakes venue, and features no shortage of recent winners with Doubly Clever, ROYAL VILLAGE and Boruma seeking respective hat-tricks, whilst the thriving Petrou remains unbeaten for Dan Skelton and switches back to hurdles seeking a five-timer. Finding the winner is a challenge, and although it requires a career best effort from a mark of 127 on handicap debut, the Philip Hobbs trained, Richard Johnson ridden Royal Village might be the answer. He is improving with hurdling experience and he thrived when upped in trip at Worcester recently so gets the nod in an open contest.