14:55 Cartmel

Monday 26 May 2025

All14:2014:5515:3016:0516:4017:1517:50

Johnny & Tony Connell Memorial Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:55 | Winning time: 5m 30.98s

The Navigator²²

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: Henry Brooke| T: Mrs Dianne Sayer| OR: 100| C

10/1

Veteran who bagged 3 more handicap wins (one at this course) in the first half of last season. Returned from a spell in the doldrums when third at Carlisle on latest hurdles outing (17f) have been suited by a well-run race. Never landed a blow back on Flat last time but not ruled out back hurdling.

Form: 579053-

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Balally Park^p,h,t¹⁷¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: Nathan Moscrop| T: R Menzies| OR: 97

14/1

Ex-Irish maiden hurdler who shaped as if back in form when fourth in maiden hurdle at Sedgefield in December. Hood now added to the tongue tie and cheekpieces he wore that day and is on a fair mark if ready to roll after 171 days off.

Form: 57/9684-

Evenwood Sonofagun^p,t⁴⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: Sean Quinlan| T: Lizzie Quinlan| OR: 95WS

10/1

Belatedly off the mark when narrowly taking 8-runner handicap hurdle (12/1) at Musselburgh (23.8f, good to soft) and back to form when running to a similar level when fourth in a 22f Kelso handicap in April. Had wind surgery since and should be competitive from 1 lb lower.

Form: 256144-

Vanilla Dancer^t¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: William Maggs⁽⁵⁾| T: C Grant| OR: 94

14/1

Fairly consistent maiden but has been on the go since October and ran below form in a first time tongue strap when third in a 6-runner handicap at Sedgefield (19.8f) earlier this month. Others preferred.

Form: 22353-3

Secret Secret^h,t¹¹³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: Charlotte Jones| T: James Moffatt| OR: 93| CD

17/2

Twice a winner at this track, the most recent coming in convincing fashion last July. Hasn't been in that sort of form on previous couple of starts, latest when well beaten as Musselburgh in July, let down by his jumping. Bounce back needed on return but handicap mark is gradually falling.

Form: 541209-

Pateen^t,v²¹⁰

Age: 13| Weight: 11-5| J: Joshua Thompson⁽⁷⁾| T: J Bedi| OR: 91| CD

22/1

Veteran C&D winner isn't the easiest to catch right, followed creditable run with a poor one when well beaten at Ayr (19.5f) in October. Has gone well fresh in the past but isn't one to hang your hat on.

Form: 401P30-

Star Vantage^t²³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: Aaron Anderson⁽⁵⁾| T: R Menzies| OR: 91

9/2

Longstanding maiden went close from marks in the 80s earlier this year but has paid the price for his consistency. Typically travelled well when fourth of 11 (in first time cheekpieces - now removed) at Uttoxeter (23.3f) earlier this month. Should give another good account

Form: 25424-4

Military Tycoon^p³⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: R P McLernon| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 91| BF| D

5/2

Fairly useful Flat performer who left behind previous hurdle runs when justifying support at Fontwell in March, travelling well and staying on well to beat a subsequent winner. Went close to following up from 7 lb higher at Newton Abbot (21.6f) 37 days ago and looks set to go well again.

Form: 900512-

Lady Mendoza^p¹⁷²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: B S Hughes| T: R Menzies| OR: 90

9/1

Fairly treated on the best of her old form but this maiden has plenty to prove (in terms of attitude and form) after pulling up back over hurdles when last seen in December.

Form: 44854P-

Kajaki^v⁶⁶

Age: 12| Weight: 11-2| J: Danny McMenamin| T: N G Richards| OR: 88

11/2

Over 2 years since this veteran last got his head but he shaped as if still in good form when tenth of 15 at Musselburgh (23.8f) in March when stretched by the longer trip. Visor refitted and has place prospects dropping back in trip.

Form: 453420-

Non-Runners

Supreme Yeats²⁷⁸

Weight: 12-0| Age: 9

T: D Skelton J: Non Runner

Ascension Day²⁰

Weight: 11-11| Age: 8

T: B Haslam J: Jack Hogan

Sky Luna²

Weight: 11-7| Age: 8

T: James Moffatt J: Leah Noreci

Topkapi Star³³

Weight: 11-3| Age: 8

T: Ewan Whillans J: Peter Kavanagh

Forecasts

Military Tycoon (5/2), Supreme Yeats (4/1), Star Vantage (9/2), Kajaki (11/2), Secret Secret (17/2), Lady Mendoza (9/1), Evenwood Sonofagun (10/1), The Navigator (10/1), Vanilla Dancer (14/1), Balally Park (14/1), Topkapi Star (14/1), Ascension Day (14/1), Sky Luna (16/1), Pateen (22/1)

A competitive fare in which SUPREME YEATS can claim another victory following a break, just as he did when back to somewhere near his best on debut for this yard last year. Military Tycoon has looked a different proposition in his most recent starts for Neil Mulholland and could be open to further improvement, with Balally Park and Kajaki both worthy of consideration from their falling handicap marks.