14:45 Cartmel

Monday 27 May 2019

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

Tony Connell Memorial Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:45 | Winning time: 5m 26.40s

Martha's Benefit¹³

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: D A Jacob| T: M Walford| OR: 100| C

14/1

Dual chase course winner who hasn't been seen in this sphere since failing to complete a handicap hat-trick last summer (when formerly with this yard). Well beaten in a hunter chase last time out; 5lb above her last winning mark back over hurdles.

Form: 1141-P3

Too Much To Ask¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J Candlish| OR: 100

3/1

Maiden hurdler who makes her GB/stable debut having performed with credit last time at Tipperary (2m4f, good); ran into one way ahead of his mark. Yard have about an 8% strike rate with stable switchers; one to watch in the market.

Form: 960U7-2

Forbidding¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: C O'Farrell| T: F P Murtagh| OR: 100

33/1

Modest Flat winner who now makes his handicap debut having made more impact than before in a Newcastle novice (2m5f, good/soft) last time. Still needs to improve his jumping; mark looks reasonable, may do better in this sphere.

Form: 445/7-3

Danceintothelight^t³¹

Age: 12| Weight: 11-10| J: Abbie McCain⁽⁵⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 98| DWS

9/1

Veteran front-runner (back from a wind op) who usually runs with credit but hasn't won since August 2017. Turned in a rare poor effort last time at Bangor but has slipped way below his last winning mark if the recent surgery has any effect.

Form: 423428-

Reivers Lodge⁶⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: James Corbett⁽⁵⁾| T: S Corbett| OR: 95

20/1

On a long losing run but had gradually worked her way back down to her last winning mark; shaped well on that occasion finishing third at Musselburgh (2m4f, soft). Well supported last time but failed to build on that run; question marks remain.

Form: 68UP36-

Trendsetter^t²³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: Alain Cawley| T: B Cawley| OR: 94

33/1

Irish raider who looks a poor performer based on the evidence so far; had the run of the race last time but finished well held over 2m at Cork. Four-time Flat winner but 0-11 over hurdles; not one to have much faith in.

Form: 6870F0-

Grand Enterprise^p,t¹⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-3| J: Billy Garritty⁽⁷⁾| T: H Hogarth| OR: 91

40/1

Little recent form to base any analysis on with this being his second run back from wind surgery. Not beaten a rival since May 2017 - that was seven runs ago; failed to complete in five of his last six races, not one to be interested in.

Form: FP/PPP-0

Slipper Satin^t,v²⁰⁰

50/1

C&D winner off a 7lb higher mark although that win came back in July 2015 when she was in much better form. In fact she's not registered a win since then and had been running poorly under both codes prior to a recent wind op; more required.

Form: 2186/5P-

Relkwood⁹⁶⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 10-13| J: Rachel McDonald⁽⁵⁾| T: D Bourke| OR: 87

33/1

0-6 over hurdles but does have a chase win to his name although he's not been seen for some considerable time; makes his stable debut returning to hurdles. 4lb below his winning chase mark; can race lazily though and has a suspect temperament.

Form: 4P1854/

Chocolat Noir¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: Danny Cook| T: M Todhunter| OR: 85

7/2

Still to win a race (0-16 over hurdles) but shaped well enough (not for the first time) when fourth at Hexham (2m7f, good) last time; would have appreciated a sterner test. Runs off 1lb lower here; despite her career record looks a leading player.

Form: 04338-4

Frightened Rabbit⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: B S Hughes| T: Mrs Dianne Sayer| OR: 84

7/2

May well have overcome a year long absence but for a last-flight error at Hexham (2m, good) last time (beaten by a stronger stayer). That confirmed he retained his ability; features off a workable mark (question mark over the trip; rare try).

Form: U056/3-2

Buckeye Shan²⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 10-0| J: S Bowen| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 74| BF

9/2

0-16 over hurdles but thought capable of better for the switch to this yard; has so far failed to meet expectations. Long while since he's shown any solid form but with a yard that have to be respected with their summer jumpers; may show more yet.

Form: 4780F-6

Perseid¹³⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 10-0| J: R P McLernon| T: B Butterworth| OR: 68

28/1

Back from a break having been tried in a first-time visor and tongue-tie when last seen (well-backed, not for the first time); ran below form. Losing run continues to mount and presents a less that sound proposition even at this lowly-level.

Form: 680796-

Non-Runners

Braddan Head¹

Weight: 11-2| Age: 6

T: Mrs Dianne Sayer J: Lorcan Murtagh

Forecasts

Too Much To Ask (3/1), Chocolat Noir (7/2), Frightened Rabbit (7/2), Buckeye Shan (9/2), Danceintothelight (9/1), Martha's Benefit (14/1), Reivers Lodge (20/1), Braddan Head (20/1), Perseid (28/1), Trendsetter (33/1), Forbidding (33/1), Relkwood (33/1), Grand Enterprise (40/1), Slipper Satin (50/1)

Even by 0-100 standards this is a weak event with very few having solid profiles and it may give CHOCOLAT NOIR a chance to finally get off the mark over hurdles after she showed promise (once again) at Hexham last time. She’ll need a strong gallop to be seen at her best but she presents a more persuasive case than the rest of the field. Frightened Rabbit would have been the selection but for the doubts about his stamina over this trip while Danceintothelight would be ideally suited by this test on his old form; wind surgery may have revived the veteran. Too Much To Ask should be noted in the market along with Buckeye Shan both from very capable stables.