17:35 Cartmel

Saturday 25 August 2018

All14:1014:4515:2015:5516:3017:0517:35

EWGA Racing Excellence 'Hands And Heels' Handicap Hurdle (Conditionals And Amateurs)

Off time: 17:35 | Winning time: 4m 15.90s

Always Resolute²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Alan Doyle| T: B Ellison| OR: 107

11/4

Hasn't always lived up to his name having won just once from 13 starts over hurdles. Fell when just starting to feel the pinch in decent race at Galway last time and has plenty of weight to shoulder.

Form: 7457-3F

Wazowski²²

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Theo Gillard⁽³⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 107

3/1

Won at Sedgefield off 7lb lower mark in January but ran well off just 2lb lower than today when runner-up at Bangor last time out. Should be there or thereabouts.

Form: 216-342

Weapon Of Choice³²¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: Danny McMenamin⁽³⁾| T: Julia Brooke| OR: 105

20/1

Fair Flat handicapper in his day and has won twice over hurdles as well. Must have had an issue having been absent for nearly 11 months and usually needs a run or two to reach his peak.

Form: 5/25415-

Wood Breizh^b,t1³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Edward Austin| T: James Moffatt| OR: 105

33/1

Formnerly trained by Willie Mullins who managed to get a win out of him over timber back in October 2014. Pulled up all three starts for new connections and despite dropping down the weights has plenty to find on recent evidence.

Form: 00/4P-PP

Captain Brown^p³⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: Charlotte Jones⁽³⁾| T: James Moffatt| OR: 103| CD

7/1

Good second here in June 2017 off 19lb higher but has dropepd down the handicap after a series of poor efforts. Has won over C&D and showed a little more last time so may finally be approaching a workable mark.

Form: 5-0PP95

Minella Fiveo³³

Age: 10| Weight: 11-7| J: K Yeoman⁽³⁾| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 100

10/1

The more rain the better for this mud lover who won in heavy ground at Uttoxeter 20 months ago. Mostly disappointing since then and will need to have his optimum conditions underfoot if he is to get involved.

Form: S42-666

Sleep In First²⁰

Age: 12| Weight: 11-3| J: Ben Godfrey⁽³⁾| T: J Ewart| OR: 96| CD

11/2

Veteran who has been mixing hurdles and chaisng this year. Has run well on each of his last five starts and clearly is in good heart, but doubtful his old legs will be up to winning this. Has place prospects though.

Form: 9-21224

Xpo Universel^t,v²⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 10-13| J: Aaron Anderson⁽³⁾| T: R Menzies| OR: 92

6/1

70 runs on the Flat, hurdles and over fences and is still a maiden. Did finish second last time though at Perth and has run well here in the past. May make the frame if things go his way.

Form: 53-2542

Da Dou Ron Ron^b1³³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-6| J: Mr Aiden Blakemore⁽³⁾| T: Mrs Dianne Sayer| OR: 85

6/1

Ex-French mare, still a maiden after 19 starts. Ran OK when second ehre on penultimate start but disappointing since on return visit. Wears first-time blinkers.

Form: 42-3524

Forecasts

Always Resolute (11/4), Wazowski (3/1), Sleep In First (11/2), Xpo Universel (6/1), Da Dou Ron Ron (6/1), Captain Brown (7/1), Minella Fiveo (10/1), Weapon Of Choice (20/1), Wood Breizh (33/1)

A chance is taken on MINELLA FIVEO in the expectation there'll be plenty of rain before post time. If it does come up boglike then Sue Smith's charge should go really well. This is easier than the Galway race last time in which Always Resolute came a cropper and he'll be thereabouts if nonetheworse for that, while Wazowski and Captain Brown, along with Xpo Universel are others who may not be far away in an open contest.