14:15 Cartmel

Saturday 24 August 2019

All14:1514:5015:2516:0016:3517:1017:45

eCatering Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 14:16 | Winning time: 4m 16.10s

Grapevine^p²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: C Brace⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs S Leech| OR: 122| D

5/4

Useful sort on the Flat (with Charles Hills); showed his best form over hurdles on debut for this yard (won Summer Hurdle at 25-1). Not disgraced in a hot Galway handicap hurdle last time (race not run to suit); returns to calmer waters.

Form: 4150/18

Astute Boy^p1,t²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: R P McLernon| T: R M Smith| OR: 101

12/1

0-8 over hurdles; showed his best form when last seen at Perth (July) after nine-weeks off over 2m (will be better suited by further). Faces a tough task at the weights; cheekpieces on first-time, those could eke out further progress.

Form: 488-5P3

Raashdy⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Jonathan England| T: S England

10/1

First run for the yard and over hurdles (previously with Peter Hiatt); modest sort over middle-distances on the Flat. Little below his best when last seen; yard has done well with these types but usually once they have a mark.

Form:

Wooster^t⁴⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: James Bowen| T: N C Kelly| OR: 104

2/1

Irish raider from a yard that should be respected at the track; fairly useful sort on the Flat at up to 1m4f. Yet to win over hurdles (0-7), good effort last time at Downpatrick in a handicap, should go well despite a stiff task at the weights.

Form: 040-245

Royal Rattle⁵⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-11| J: Colm McCormack⁽³⁾| T: J R Norton

80/1

Hard to make much of a case for him on his hurdling debut having shown modest form at best on the Flat this season at up to 7f. Long-standing maiden on the level, not one to take much interest in.

Form:

Seaborough^p⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-11| J: Henry Brooke| T: D Thompson| OR: 123

7/1

Flat form of late has been relatively sound if at a modest level although he looks to have been handed an inflated rating over hurdles. Best effort came on debut when with Alan King at Wetherby (October 2018); place chance at best.

Form: 24-

Catchmeifyoucan⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-5| J: Thomas Dowson| T: J Candlish

25/1

Irish point-to-point winner (fell first two starts) on her fourth start who has yet to make much of an impact under Rules. Sent hurdling last time after finishing well held in a bumper; looks one for the longer-term.

Form: FF31-57

Ella Nutrargile²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-5| J: J Kington| T: S G West

100/1

Has some winning if modest jumping relations in her pedigree but failed to show much promise when finishing last in a Worcester bumper on debut. Hard to see her offering much more given her initial try over timber.

Form: 6

Potters Away⁹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-5| J: P J Brennan| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero

16/1

Sent off at big prices in her three novice hurdles so far but despite the price she caught the eye with her display last time at Bangor (2m1f, good). Not given a hard time at all, she'll be very interesting once gaining a handicap mark.

Form: 466-6

Forecasts

Grapevine (5/4), Wooster (2/1), Seaborough (7/1), Raashdy (10/1), Astute Boy (12/1), Potters Away (16/1), Catchmeifyoucan (25/1), Royal Rattle (80/1), Ella Nutrargile (100/1)

Very much calmer waters for the Sophie Leech-trained GRAPEVINE who despite having to give weight to the entire field should be able to regain the winning thread after running in two tough handicaps, winning the first of them in good fashion. Given that level of form it’s hard to see many dangers although the Irish raider Wooster from a yard that do well here should be respected. Outside of those two the most interesting contender would be the mare Potters Away who showed clear signs of ability last time although gaining a handicap mark may be the objective here. Astute Boy and Seaborough are the others with place chances.