17:25 Cartmel

Sunday 30 June 2019

All14:0014:3515:0515:4016:1516:5017:25

L Wood Holiday Home Insurance Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 17:25 | Winning time: 6m 31.80s

David John²³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Sam Coltherd⁽³⁾| T: J K Hunter| OR: 110

33/1

Likes to dictate; did so when winning for his former yard (Tom Lacey) at Newton Abbot last year. Similar tactics for his new yard are yet to pay off with his best run coming at Kelso (second); totally unsuited going right-handed at Musselburgh.

Form: 123526-

Judge Earle^b,t⁵^{(ex 7)}

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: James Bowen| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 103

5/4

Up in trip off a break he capitalised on a tumbling mark to score at Newton Abbot a few days ago winning with plenty in hand. Penalised 7lb he's been rated much higher in the past; leading chance if the quick return doesn't foil his chance.

Form: 0007-01

Christmas Twenty^p³²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: Miss Becky Smith⁽³⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 105

14/1

Frustrating sort who took an age to get of the mark doing so at Perth last summer off a 2lb lower mark. Not seen for 9 months after that; returned to record two below-par starts, return to this trip may help but that's no given.

Form: 7241P-4

Nemean Lion^p,t⁴²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Thomas Dowson| T: P A Kirby| OR: 103| D

5/1

Best when allowed to dominate (all wins from the front); not certain to be granted that luxury here though. Didn't run badly last time at Stratford (made move for home too early); just 1lb higher than last win, chance if evading pace pressure.

Form: 7166P-3

Morning Royalty²⁹

Age: 12| Weight: 11-4| J: B S Hughes| T: James Moffatt| OR: 102| CD

8/1

Knows this course well (has three wins to his name around here) but it's a long time since he got his head in front (May 2017). Mixes hurdling and chasing but didn't fare that well over fences last time; mark has plummeted, needs to show some zip.

Form: 7PU64-4

King Golan^b³⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Alison Clarke⁽⁷⁾| T: Kenny Johnson| OR: 100

14/1

One of the three likely pace pushers he's achieved little over hurdles with outing over timber here last time (2m6f) a confidence booster after a heavy fall the time before. Faces a stiff task off this mark based on recent chasing performances.

Form: 1122F-3

Aquarian^p²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: R P McLernon| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 99| D

7/1

Progress looks to have stalled since his Huntingdon handicap hurdle win late last year off a 5lb lower mark. Showed a little more last time (bumped into a stable switcher off a handy mark); no guarantee that he'll be able to repeat that performance.

Form: 5353-P2

Jessiemac^t¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-8| J: D R Fox| T: I A Duncan| OR: 92| CD

5/1

Well positioned in a tactical race over C&D in May off a 2lb lower mark that saw her gain her first win (only weak form). Ran as well if not better in defeat at Aintree last time (failed to settle); not written off if she does prove more tractable.

Form: 654-215

Captain Cook^t³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-6| J: C O'Farrell| T: Mrs Dianne Sayer| OR: 90

25/1

Achievements under Rules have amounted to very little; went with little promise on his first run for this yard after transferring from Colin McBratney. Has won an Irish PTP but hard to believe he will get involved in this on what he's shown.

Form: 88P7P-8

Non-Runners

Jupiters Way⁵⁴

Weight: 10-13| Age: 7

T: P A Kirby J: Ross Chapman

Forecasts

Judge Earle (5/4), Nemean Lion (5/1), Jessiemac (5/1), Aquarian (7/1), Morning Royalty (8/1), Jupiters Way (12/1), King Golan (14/1), Christmas Twenty (14/1), Captain Cook (25/1), David John (33/1)

What could be a one-sided end to the card if JUDGE EARLE is in the same form as he was last Tuesday at Newton Abbot; a 7lb penalty unlikely to stop him. Of course the quick turnaround may not be to his liking but his trainer Peter Bowen has an excellent strike-rate (44%) with his handicap hurdlers backing up quickly. Pace shouldn’t be an issue in this race with David John, King Golan and Nemean Lion all likely to push the pace, the latter of that trio looking to be one of the dangers. Aquarian for the yard that won this last year caught a tartar at Fontwell last time but he’s hardly the most reliable and Jessiemac is offered as a potential threat if she settles better, she is a C&D winner.