18:40 Cartmel

Wednesday 28 May 2025

All17:4018:1018:4019:1019:4020:1020:40

Traffic Management Handicap Hurdle (Div 1)

Off time: 18:41 | Winning time: 5m 31.10s

Flying Scotsman^b³⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: R P McLernon| T: B Haslam| OR: 120

66/1

Arrives fit from the Flat and well treated on the pick of his form in this sphere, so would enter calculations if supported in the betting.

Form: 92589/P-

Curley Finger^t,v1⁷⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Nathan Moscrop| T: R Menzies| OR: 120

11/1

Successful 3 times in late-2023/24 but didn't quite hit those heights last season, though not disgraced when fifth of 6 in handicap hurdle (10/1) at Doncaster (24.4f, good) on most recent in March. Visored for first time.

Form: 13/0P45-

Shantwopointfive⁴¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: James Bowen| T: W Greatrex| OR: 118| BF| CD

11/8

C&D winner who shaped as if still in top form when fourth of 16 in handicap hurdle at Cheltenham (20.2f, good) 41 days ago, rallying early in straight after losing place 2 out. Step back up in trip will suit and much respected.

Form: 151224-

Fourofakind^p²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Sean Quinlan| T: Lizzie Quinlan| OR: 115

25/1

Possibly needed the run when fourth of 6 in handicap hurdle (28/1) at Hexham (16.2f, good) 25 days ago. Significantly up in trip.

Form: 11455-4

Belvedere Blast⁴⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Henry Brooke| T: A Keatley| OR: 113

17/2

Scored at Market Rasen (23f) in January and has continued in good order, fifth of 13 in handicap hurdle at Ayr (24.3f, good, 18/1) 47 days ago. Not taken lightly.

Form: 315245-

Our Sam^p,t²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-3| J: Leah Noreci⁽¹⁰⁾| T: James Moffatt| OR: 109| C

17/2

Dual course winner who ran his best race for a while in handicap over further here on Monday (still prominent 2 out). Likely to pop up again here soon.

Form: 04FP8-8

Rock Hurley^b,t³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: William Maggs⁽⁵⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 107

7/2

Took advantage of a much-reduced mark when opening account for current connections in 8-runner handicap hurdle (3/1) at Bangor (19.6f, soft) 34 days ago, unchallenged. Remains well treated on his French form.

Form: 534241-

Mojo Ego¹¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Charlotte Jones| T: James Moffatt| OR: 104

22/1

Won a pair of juvenile hurdles for Harry Derham last season. Yet to build on an encouraging stable debut back here in August but has fallen appreciably in the weights and could go well if his stamina holds out over this longer trip.

Form: 9/55087-

Rioja Alta^b⁷⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-7| J: B S Hughes| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 99

15/2

Winner at Sedgefield in February and ran at least as well in defeat at Newcastle (20.3f, good to soft) next time. Likely to be thereabouts again if resuming in similar form back from a break.

Form: 33/7912-

Topkapi Star^p³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: Peter Kavanagh⁽³⁾| T: Ewan Whillans| OR: 89

20/1

Latest win in hurdle at Ayr in January but only seventh of 11 in handicap hurdle at Perth (23.9f, soft) 35 days ago. Others more persuasive from 5 lb out of the weights.

Form: 14P107-

Forecasts

Shantwopointfive (11/8), Rock Hurley (7/2), Rioja Alta (15/2), Belvedere Blast (17/2), Our Sam (17/2), Curley Finger (11/1), Topkapi Star (20/1), Mojo Ego (22/1), Fourofakind (25/1), Flying Scotsman (66/1)

SHANTWOPOINTFIVE is a previous C&D winner with a progressive profile and, having shaped well in a well-contested Cheltenham handicap on her most recent outing, she makes plenty of appeal. The dangers are headed by Rock Hurley, who remains well treated on his French form and Mojo Ego, who shouldn't be taken lightly from a career-low mark.