20:25 Cartmel

Wednesday 29 May 2019

All17:4018:1018:4519:2019:5020:2520:55

Localiq Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 20:25 | Winning time: 4m 39.16s

Astute Boy^t¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: Dale Irving⁽³⁾| T: R M Smith| OR: 99

16/1

Fairly useful on the Flat and well weighted if he could live up to that form over timber having only shown his best in this sphere once or twice. Would have needed the run last time and is easing in the weights; second run back from wind surgery.

Form: 52488-5

Court Jurado³³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 98

13/2

Winning pointer who has shown clear signs of ability in novice hurdles with the air of one be brought along with handicaps in mind. May well need longer trips to be seen to better effect; mark not an onerous one from a good yard (market move noted).

Form: 1/445-

Clayton Hall³³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Miss Becky Smith⁽³⁾| T: J S Wainwright| OR: 96

50/1

Has one standout effort over hurdles to his name which over a longer trip around here which clearly flatters him. Returns from a long absence after running a moody race when last seen and not one to be putting on any shortlist.

Form: F/7640-

Elixer^h³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Lorcan Murtagh⁽³⁾| T: F P Murtagh| OR: 96

33/1

Has some fair relations over hurdles although he's yet to show much under Rules (placed in PTP's). Not beaten that far on his last start though and wasn't knocked about either; may do better now he's gained and mark (not that lenient though).

Form: 833786-

Calliope^h,t¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: C O'Farrell| T: Mrs Dianne Sayer| OR: 96

10/1

Last run for the late Ken Slack looks her best over hurdles (0-6 over hurdles); looked unsuited by the longer trip at Hexham last time. Will be better suited by this trip but the mark still looks a little too high; needs an ease in the weights.

Form: 38245-0

Richard Strauss^p¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Thomas Dowson⁽³⁾| T: P A Kirby| OR: 95

6/1

Two poor Flat runs this spring rather dent his profile (without usual cheekpieces; return here). Better judged on his hurdling form late last year when scoring at Musselburgh off this mark; capable of bouncing back in reapplied headgear.

Form: 4/88163-

Trendsetter^t²

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

7/2

A long time between drinks for this one but he did show a glimmer of his old form when third here on Monday (settled far better than usual). Given a considerate ride over 2m6f he's dangerous off this mark if he can repeat that level of form.

Form: 870F0-3

Porto Du Sud^t,v1⁵³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Ross Chapman| T: R Menzies| OR: 93

11/4

Dropped in the weights to a handy mark with connections looking as though they are slowly finding the key to him (now tried in a visor) after a wind op. Now back to 2m (shaped like a non-stayer last time); one to note in the market.

Form: 7F6065-

Oksana^t¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Jonathan England| T: S England| OR: 92

9/2

Stable have won this race for the past two years and she looks the type that the yard specialise getting back on track. Shown promise before in novice events for her former yard; first run for this yard left no doubt she could win a handicap.

Form: 36797-5

Riviere Argentee^t,v¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Kevin Jones⁽³⁾| T: M F Harris| OR: 92| BF

8/1

Having run well in handicaps and looked to building up to something in that sphere it was surprising/disappointing to see her beaten in a Stratford seller last time. Failed to meet expectations; hard to recommend in the light of that run.

Form: 25633-4

Weapon Of Choice^p,t⁵⁴

Age: 11| Weight: 11-4| J: Henry Brooke| T: Julia Brooke| OR: 92

14/1

Has often shaped better than his finishing position in handicaps but has a habit of travelling well and not delivering in his races. Ran well below form at Sedgefield when last seen; on balance not one to be having total confidence in.

Form: 15/4555-

Snowed In^p⁷³

Age: 10| Weight: 11-2| J: Sean Quinlan| T: B Butterworth| OR: 90| D

12/1

Has an unappealing 0-10 record at this course but has slithered down the handicap; now resides 1lb below his last winning mark. Would have a chance but for his course record; comes here off the back of one of his weaker recent starts.

Form: 396236-

Non-Runners

Canford Thompson⁴⁸

Weight: 11-12| Age: 6

T: Micky Hammond J: Billy Garritty

Start Seven²²

Weight: 11-0| Age: 7

T: James Moffatt J: Charlotte Jones

Forecasts

Porto Du Sud (11/4), Trendsetter (7/2), Oksana (9/2), Richard Strauss (6/1), Canford Thompson (6/1), Court Jurado (13/2), Riviere Argentee (8/1), Start Seven (8/1), Calliope (10/1), Snowed In (12/1), Weapon Of Choice (14/1), Astute Boy (16/1), Elixer (33/1), Clayton Hall (50/1)

Backers won’t be short of feasible options in this with a few having reasonable chances in a race that takes some unravelling. Sam England has won this race for the past two seasons and looks to have another likely candidate in the mare OKSANA who showed that she still had plenty of ability at Southwell last time. Porto Du Sud is one of the main dangers with this drop back in trip looking to be far more suitable while Trendsetter will be dangerous if he can repeat his run from Monday here over this shorter trip. Canford Thompson has a stiffer mark to deal with but can’t be ruled out and the handicap newcomers Court Jurado and Elixer are both worth noting in the market.