17:40 Cartmel

Saturday 27 August 2022

All14:5015:2516:0016:3417:0517:4018:10

Fitzdares Cartmel Cup Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 17:40 | Winning time: 4m 0.40s

Play The Game^t¹⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Kieren Buckley⁽⁵⁾| T: J C McConnell| OR: 128| D

14/1

In better heart than recent form figures suggest and duly confirmed as much when finishing runner-up over 2m at Tramore 16 days ago, left behind by winner run-in but clear of remainder. Each-way claims with a repeat.

Form: 545-F72

Snookered^v⁴²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: Mrs Izzie Hill⁽⁷⁾| T: B Ellison| OR: 125| CD

7/1

Mixed bag on Flat/over hurdles but well-handled by this rider when capitalising on his reduced mark in a C&D event 6 weeks ago, clear entering the straight. Whether he'll be in same form here is up for question but he remains with handicapping scope.

Form: 2874-01

Alqamar⁴²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: James Moffatt| OR: 124| CD

15/2

Completed a four-timer in 2021 (3 over C&D including this race) and not disgraced both starts back this spring. Recent efforts not so inspiring, never dangerous when seventh in race won by Snookered last month. Still, his mark is easing all the time.

Form: 1U6-707

Jamacho⁴⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Paul O'Brien| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 121| D

14/1

Likeable sort who arrives here in grand order, back to winning ways at Worcester (2m) in June and proved willing when defying a small rise in weights at Stratford since. 3 lb higher now but foolish to rule out in hat-trick bid.

Form: 31F-611

Kerosine Light^p⁴²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 119| D

5/1

Quickly on the up over hurdles for present yard, landing maiden/handicaps at Bangor/Warwick prior to a good third at Aintree (20f) in June. First past post (subsequently demoted having bumped closest rival) over 22f here 6 weeks ago and he's not discounted back down in trip.

Form: P2-113D

Vocal Duke⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Charlotte Jones⁽³⁾| T: James Moffatt| OR: 116| BF| CD

4/1

Did well last season, winning 3 times. Sold from Toby Lawes for £23,000 in May and better than ever when making winning start for new yard over C&D in June. Ran with credit both starts around here since (left with too much to do latest) and he's not out of things.

Form: 523-164

Mandocello⁵³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: C Gethings| T: S Edmunds| OR: 116

6/1

Fairly useful Flat performer who boasts a positive profile over hurdles, arriving here having landed maiden/novice events at upto 15.8f in recent months. Needs to jump better now tackling stronger company/handicapping but that certainly feasible.

Form: 4/211

We'll Go Again²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Jonathan England| T: S England| OR: 114| D

11/2

Multiple Flat winner/maiden hurdler in Ireland who did well under the circumstances to make a winning stable debut over hurdles in a Market Rasen maiden (16.5f) 4 weeks ago, overcoming positional bias. Likely more to come back in handicaps.

Form: 4294P-1

Battle Of Toro^v³²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: Ben Jones| T: James Moffatt| OR: 110| CD

12/1

Useful on Flat earlier in career. Made it third time lucky over hurdles when readily landing a C&D novice in June. Matched that level when runner-up back here next time but not quite scaled same heights either start since. Visor replaces cheekpieces now.

Form: 4-81263

Bellaney Gem^p,t¹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 10-7| J: S Bowen| T: S R B Crawford| OR: 107| CD

12/1

Dual winner of novice events last year and posted his best effort of 2022 so far when runner-up from 1 lb higher at Perth (16.2f) in July. However, she turned in a lesser effort back at that venue 2 weeks ago. Others more persuasive.

Form: 644428

Frightened Rabbit^p²⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 10-4| J: Danny McMenamin| T: Mrs Dianne Sayer| OR: 104| CD

33/1

Backed at long odds following a 2-month break and duly capitalised on a falling mark in re-fitted cheekpieces at Hexham in May. Not in same form behind Snookered over C&D next time and again disappointed on Flat at Carlisle (7.8f) 26 days ago.

Form: 950P-10

Non-Runners

Curious Times⁵⁸

Weight: 11-3| Age: 9

T: S R B Crawford J: James Bowen

Forecasts

Vocal Duke (4/1), Kerosine Light (5/1), We'll Go Again (11/2), Mandocello (6/1), Snookered (7/1), Alqamar (15/2), Battle Of Toro (12/1), Bellaney Gem (12/1), Curious Times (12/1), Jamacho (14/1), Play The Game (14/1), Frightened Rabbit (33/1)

Plenty in with a shout in a competitive renewal with WE'LL GO AGAIN getting the narrow vote to come out on top. He did well to reel in one that had seemingly built up an unassailable lead on yard debut in a Market Rasen maiden 4 weeks ago and he could have even more to come reverting back to handicaps. Mandocello is a low-mileage sort who arrives here having landed back-to-back maiden/novice events and is feared, along with Vocal Duke, Jamacho and Alqamar.