16:35 Cartmel

Friday 28 June 2019

All13:5014:2014:5515:3016:0016:3517:10

William Hill Leading Racecourse Bookmaker Novices' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:35 | Winning time: 4m 7.8s

Too Much To Ask²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: R Johnson| T: J Candlish| OR: 103| BF

9/4

Was 2¾L second of 13 here over 2m6f (good) on stable debut last month, when 3lb lower. Also ran well (with excuses) in defeat at Stratford last time. Has to pull out a bit more, but no surprise if compensation awaits even over this shorter trip.

Form: 0U7-224

Native Fighter²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Henry Brooke| T: Jedd O'Keeffe| OR: 103

5/1

Dual winner on both AW/turf on the Flat, but in the money just once from four runs over hurdles. Well held on handicap debut from this mark at Hexham recently. More needed.

Form: 638-5

Namazee⁶⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-8| J: Callum Bewley| T: C Grant| OR: 102WS

33/1

0-3 over hurdles and looks to have been allotted a tough mark for this first handicap assignment. First run post-wind surgery.

Form: 065-

Oceanus¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Danny McMenamin⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs Dianne Sayer| OR: 97

25/1

Dual 1m2f Flat winner (on good/soft). Has had just one run per year in the last three over hurdles, and looks on a stiff enough mark here. Good claimer up, however, and trainer in form, so interesting if supported.

Form: 3/5-6

Dariya^t¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-3| J: Aidan Coleman| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 97

14/1

Was 2¾L third of eight in a fillies' juvenile hurdle at Huntingdon in March, and ran respectably until falling late on when beaten on handicap debut at Stratford recently. 3lb lower here and not ruled out.

Form: 473-F

Elixer^h³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Lorcan Murtagh⁽³⁾| T: F P Murtagh| OR: 93

50/1

Well held in three completed hurdles runs and then pulled up here on his handicap debut last month. Can only watch.

Form: 33786-P

Fiercly Forgie²²³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 90

5/2

Irish point winner at the third attempt last year (good). Showed little in four starts for Jimmy Moffatt, one of them here, but looks on a workable mark on debut for this trainer. Market should inform.

Form: 514679-

Highway Star⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: Mr S A Morgan⁽⁷⁾| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 90

7/1

Placed in half of his eight hurdles starts and although he has not yet won, he has enough form on the board to suggest that he can go very close from this mark.

Form: 3720-63

Start Seven^v⁵²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: Charlotte Jones⁽⁷⁾| T: James Moffatt| OR: 88

40/1

Triple AW Flat winner over 1m6f in January 2017, but showing nothing to interest from a betting perspective over hurdles.

Form: P050-0

Mac Cennetig^t,v⁴⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: Billy Garritty⁽⁷⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 74

13/2

Made the frame for just the third time in 21 starts over hurdles a Sedgefield (2m1f, good) last time. 3lb 'wrong' here, but can't rule him out of the money again.

Form: 45536-3

Right Royals Day⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 10-0| J: R Patrick⁽³⁾| T: J L Needham| OR: 68

50/1

0-9 over hurdles, and little chance based on his two runs this year, from 9lb out of the handicap.

Form: 4050-68

Non-Runners

Clayton Hall¹⁷

Weight: 10-12| Age: 6

T: J S Wainwright J: Miss Becky Smith

Forecasts

Too Much To Ask (9/4), Fiercly Forgie (5/2), Native Fighter (5/1), Mac Cennetig (13/2), Highway Star (7/1), Dariya (14/1), Oceanus (25/1), Namazee (33/1), Start Seven (40/1), Right Royals Day (50/1), Elixer (50/1), Clayton Hall (50/1)

A poor contest where despite a slight rise in the weights for not winning, TOO MUCH TO ASK may still be capable of getting his nose in front, and he is suggested. Fiercly Forgie is an interesting stable debutant for Donald McCain and money for him would be no surprise. Highway Star looks a danger, as does Dariya, while support for Oceanus would also make him of interest.