15:40 Cartmel

Wednesday 30 May 2018

All14:1014:4015:1015:4016:1016:4017:15

Milner Boardman Partnership Beginners' Chase

Off time: 15:41 | Winning time: 5m 31.3s

Birch Hill^t⁴⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: P J Brennan| T: Mrs S Leech| OR: 122| D

10/11

122-rated hurdler who found plenty for pressure when scoring by 10L at Huntingdon in February (2m soft). Has won a quick ground point-to-point back in 2014 (1 from 2), so looks versatile ground wise ahead of his rules fencing bow.

Form: P/P1U60-

Luca Brazi^p1²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Sam Coltherd⁽⁵⁾| T: A Sadik| OR: 62

80/1

Jumped poorly on chasing debut at Leicester in March (2m heavy), and this 12-race maiden should have little chance on these terms based upon official figures. Wears first time cheek-pieces.

Form: P76PU-P

Our Uncle Pat¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Finian O'Toole⁽³⁾| T: Kenny Johnson

50/1

Failed to complete in two starts in point-to-points and tailed off in a maiden hurdle on stable debut at Southwell earlier this month (2m4f good). Rates as unappealing.

Form: UP-7

Raise A Spark^h¹³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 123

5/4

All four of his hurdles successes (from 25 starts) have come with cut in the ground, and over shorter trips than today's (2m-2m4f). Ran well enough at Perth latest on just his second start for 12 months, so is a fresh horse for chasing debut.

Form: 134/F6-4

Ripstick¹⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: J Walton| OR: 89

20/1

Won twice in point-to-points (2 from 8), but pulled up latest, and also never involved on his last start under rules at Sedgefield in April (2m3f+ good).

Form: 1P59-2P

Sigurd¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Thomas Dowson⁽³⁾| T: Miss J E Foster| OR: 118| D

6/1

Easy to back on his first start since June 2017 (stable debut) at Hexham recently, so reasons to believe he can better that effort now switched to fences. However, others sport similar profiles and appeal as more likely winners.

Form: 4381/0-9

Sussex Road^p⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: Colm McCormack⁽³⁾| T: A Sadik| OR: 44

100/1

0 from 37, and continues to look an absolutely hopeless case. Lowly rated with every justification; no chance whatsoever.

Form: 34PPR-P

Non-Runners

Oh Land Abloom³⁴

Weight: 11-0| Age: 8

T: N B King J: Harry Teal

Forecasts

Birch Hill (10/11), Oh Land Abloom (10/11), Raise A Spark (5/4), Sigurd (6/1), Ripstick (20/1), Our Uncle Pat (50/1), Luca Brazi (80/1), Sussex Road (100/1)

Half of this field can be confidently dismissed, so it's a case of working out which of the remainder will take best to fences. Both Sigurd and Raise A Spark line up as relatively fresh horses who should strip fitter for their recent hurdles outings, whilst the top-rated Oh Land Abloom also merits respect. However, whilst racing on soft ground over hurdles more latterly, BIRCH HILL performed well in the main on better ground last summer, so this three-time career winner (from 15 starts) might feasibly be the solution for Gloucestershire handler Sophie Leech.