17:05 Cartmel

Sunday 1 July 2018

All14:1014:4515:2015:5516:3017:0517:40

John Smiths Extra Smooth Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 17:08 | Winning time: 6m 18.0s

Shake It Up^p1³⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Miss Becky Smith⁽⁵⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 108| CD

4/1

A win and runner-up spot have come his way over 3m1f here over fences very much getting back to somewhere near his best last time. Now returns to hurdles off a 4lb lower mark; yet to win over hurdles but should prove competitive.

Form: 1433-F2

Munsaab^t,v³⁶

Age: 12| Weight: 11-11| J: Henry Brooke| T: James Moffatt| OR: 107| CD

16/1

Usually seen over fences around here (dual C&D winner) and not seen over smaller obstacles since early 2017 (well beaten). Returned from a long absence over fences last time (easy to back) but still didn't look in much form despite a favourable mark.

Form: 65437-6

Wood Emery⁵⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Finian O'Toole⁽³⁾| T: H Hogarth| OR: 105

16/1

Plenty looked to have been put in place for a winning handicap hurdle debut at Punchestown in February and well-backed he duly obliged. Struggled to follow-up and now left Alan Fleming; now makes his stable debut with a bit to prove.

Form: 500/19-P

Dreamsoftheatre^p,t¹⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 11-8| J: Alain Cawley| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 104| CD

11/2

Far from straightforward sort who has slipped back below his last winning mark but has basically been going through the motions of late and running poorly. Despite the falling mark hard to find any evidence to support him.

Form: 150P-56

Serpico^t,v⁴⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: R Johnson| T: D Killahena & G McPherson| OR: 104

3/1

Type who ought to be able to win a race but needs plenty to go right for him to be seen at his best such as a strong gallop and a real stamina test. Once again finished with running left last time and this sharp course may not see him to best effect.

Form: 25/P54-4

Raid Stane^b⁶⁹

Age: 12| Weight: 11-4| J: Aaron Anderson⁽⁷⁾| T: L Egerton| OR: 100| C

66/1

Would have needed the run badly last time returning to the course after a 22 month absence. Never on terms on his return he's not straightforward and will more than likely need another run or two before he can be properly assessed.

Form: 5P411/P-

Perseid³²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-4| J: B S Hughes| T: B Butterworth| OR: 86

7/2

Last winning form came when he was with Sue Smith but that was as long ago as December 2016 and since then he's developed plenty of quirks and inconsistencies. Ran well enough for this yard here last time but no banker to back-up or build on that.

Form: 3355-03

East Wing^t⁴⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-3| J: R D Day⁽³⁾| T: M E Sowersby| OR: 85

50/1

His only real form came when runner-up on his bumper debut with his hurdles form failing to match that by a long way. Equipped with blinkers for the first time on his last start but that headgear failed to bring about any progress at all.

Form: 7088-85

Court Baloo^v²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: Ross Chapman⁽³⁾| T: A C Whillans| OR: 82

11/2

Took advantage of a reduced mark (8lb below his last winning one) to score at Musselburgh late last year. Ran well on one start after that before wind surgery halted his revival. Second run back from surgery was only modest and a bit to prove here.

Form: 9412P-9

Non-Runners

News For Pascal³⁶

Weight: 10-5| Age: 10

T: S G West J: J Kington

Forecasts

Serpico (3/1), Perseid (7/2), Shake It Up (4/1), News For Pascal (5/1), Dreamsoftheatre (11/2), Court Baloo (11/2), Wood Emery (16/1), Munsaab (16/1), East Wing (50/1), Raid Stane (66/1)

A race that really does lack any solid options with some quirky on show. Seprico has the assistance of Richard Johnson but this course could well prove too sharp for him as a horse who looks to need a real stamina test. Munsaab comes here off a favourable mark but his recent form doesn’t amount to much and the same could be said of Wood Emery. The booking of Brian Hughes for Perseid suggests connections mean business but he’s an inconsistent sort and SHAKE IT UP is given a chance to prove that he’s as good around here over hurdles as he is over fences. Court Baloo has the excellent Ross Chapman on board and is worth a market check off his lowly mark.