18:50 Cartmel

Wednesday 31 May 2023

All17:5018:2018:5019:2019:5020:2020:50

Strathmore Hotels Selling Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 18:51 | Winning time: 4m 14.50s

True Romance^p,t²²

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Adrian Heskin| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 97

11/1

Justified market support when adding to his tally on the Flat at Wolverhampton (14f) in December. Underwhelming efforts next 2 starts but shaped as if he'd come on for first start for 4 months at Fakenham (2m) 22 days ago. Not out of things.

Form: 39234-4

Hey Bob^t²²

Age: 11| Weight: 11-11| J: B S Hughes| T: J Coulson| OR: 94| CD

10/1

Veteran who won 3 on the bounce last spring/summer, latterly this race on debut for present stable. Well below form next 3 starts but he did at least take a step back in the right direction back from 8 months off when second in a Fakenham seller 3 weeks ago. Possibilities.

Form: 11709-2

Calevade^p⁵¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: R P McLernon| T: B Haslam| OR: 90

12/1

Fair on Flat in 2020. Also shaped well on hurdle debut in January of that year but he hasn't shown much in 4 outings since returning from a long absence, latest on the level last month.

Form: 3/P75-

Princess Poppy^p1¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: S Bowen| T: O Murphy| OR: 83

28/1

No impact in mares' maiden hurdles and easy to back, similarly offered little on handicap debut at Market Rasen (16.5f) 19 days ago. Cheekpieces reached for now dropped in grade.

Form: 77P6-0

Charlie's Rockstar^h¹⁰¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: Mrs A C Hamilton| OR: 80

20/1

Runner-up in Irish points but hasn't offered much under Rules, pulled up having been ridden with more restraint that usual (following wind op) at Musselburgh (19.8f) in February. Tough to assess back from a break.

Form: P4P8PP-

Bugle Major^b¹⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: Paul O'Brien| T: A Watson| OR: 80

11/1

Fair Flat winner who offered a bit to work on sent hurdling when third in a 2m Catterick maiden in February. Not yet built on that in 3 subsequent outings, proving too free when eighth in 14-runner Plumpton handicap (15.9f) 17 days ago. Still, not dismissed down in class.

Form: 380-8

Ingleby Mackenzie^b¹⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 10-11| J: Sean Quinlan| T: Ewan Whillans| OR: 80

15/2

Fair handicap chaser in Ireland for Henry de Bromhead but yet to threaten for new yard, weakening 3 out when well held at Newcastle (16.8f) earlier this month.

Form: 46397-7

Mcpherson^p1,t²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-10| J: Henry Brooke| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 79

17/2

Fairly useful maiden on Flat in Ireland. Showed a bit more than previously over hurdles when third of 9 on handicap debut at Ludlow last May, but not built on that subsequently, well held at Uttoxeter 25 days ago. Cheekpieces go on now.

Form: 56/349-8

Edinburgh Rock^v1²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-9| J: Bradley Harris⁽⁵⁾| T: M F Harris| OR: 84

11/2

Fair maiden on the Flat for Ralph Beckett (stays 1½m) but offered little in trio of juvenile hurdles upon joining present stable over the winter. Did fare creditably back on the Flat at Wolverhampton recently and it does at least remain early days in this sphere. Visored now.

Form: 645-

Clean Getaway^p1¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-4| J: Joe Williamson⁽⁵⁾| T: P A Kirby| OR: 73

9/4

Maiden who ran one of his better races when fourth in 12-runner Market Rasen handicap (16.5f) 3 weeks ago, though not for the first time promising more than he delivered. Still, he's not out of things dropped in grade with cheekpieces enlisted.

Form: 8F754-4

Diamant Sur Canape²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-3| J: Danny McMenamin| T: Ewan Whillans| OR: 72

9/1

Well held in bumper and little to shout about in 6 starts in this sphere, although he was a bit better than the result when a well-held seventh of 12 on his recent 21f Kelso handicap debut. Down in trip/grade now.

Form: 9P9P0-7

Forecasts

Clean Getaway (9/4), Edinburgh Rock (11/2), Ingleby Mackenzie (15/2), Mcpherson (17/2), Diamant Sur Canape (9/1), Hey Bob (10/1), Bugle Major (11/1), True Romance (11/1), Calevade (12/1), Charlie's Rockstar (20/1), Princess Poppy (28/1)

HEY BOB ended last term below his best but did take a step firmly in the right direction when beaten only by a subsequent winner in a selling handicap at Fakenham 3 weeks ago and, partnered by Brian Hughes, he can make a bold bid to supplement his victory in this corresponding race 12 months ago. Clean Getaway hasn't often convinced with his finishing effort but he's a player down in grade nevertheless. True Romance and Edinburgh Rock are others worth a look.