Friday, August 26, 2011

Cartmel considerations

After a very quick glance at tomorrow's Flat cards, the only entry I can see with NH form running over more than 12 furlongs is Drunken Sailor in the opener at Goodwood. Back in 2008 the bay took a Gowran Park maiden hurdle and has gone on to considerably better things since. Luca Cumani's course and distance winner has an obvious chance in the small field but at around even money doesn't make much appeal as a betting proposition.

So, here are some brief notes on the jumpers at Cartmel, where the going is currently reported good to soft, good in places.

Only four in the first which on paper looks a match between Stonethrower and Sara's Smile. The two trainers concerned have exceptional strike rates in the past fortnight - Tim Vaughan (Stonethrower) - 16 wins from 41 runs (39.02%); Donald McCain (Sara's Smile) - 6 wins from 15 runners (40%). Stonethrower's jock claims a handy-looking seven pounds but the gelding has done most of his racing over further...

The highlights are the class 3 Cavendish Cup, a handicap chase, at 3.20 and the Cartmel Cup, a handicap hurdle, at 4.15 . Only four declared for the chase in which course and distance winner Foxesbow will be an odds-on chance. Seize sports first time blinkers but was beaten a distance here by Foxesbow in July. The handicap hurdle looks an altogether more competitive affair. Front Rank bids to take this for the third consecutive year but at the age of 11 faces a stiff task. Jockey F. Keniry has won twice on The Tiddly Tadpole in recent weeks; five pound claimer Henry Brooke gets the leg-up tomorrow while Keniry rides Gary Moore's Guy D'Arnac. I'll take a small each-way interest in The Tiddly Tadpole if priced up 10/1 or bigger.

Finally, trainer A E Jones' two runners, Temple Place and Murfreesboro, catch the eye in the finale, having made the journey up from Timberscombe, Somerset.

1 comment:

GeeDee said...

Sara's Smile (11/8jf) beat Stonethrower (11/8jf) easily.

Indian Pipe Dream (10/1) made all to hold Foxesbow (4/6f) two and threequarter lengths while The Tiddly Tadpole (7/1) took up the running three from home but faded out of contention with a mistake at the last, eventaully finishing fifth.

Murfreesboro (7/2f) took the bumper with stablemate Temple Place (9/2) finishing third.