17:00 Cartmel

Sunday 2 July 2017

All14:2014:5015:2015:5516:2517:0017:35

Smooth FM Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 17:00 | Winning time: 6m 20.62s

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Selected odds by:

Overtheedge³²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: T Scudamore| T: S G West| OR: 110

9/2

A novice hurdle winner at Wetherby in last April he's run to form in most of his starts in handicaps since without looking a winner waiting to happen. His latest start here behind Boruma saw him beaten 12L but that was a sound enough run and gives him a chance here.

Form: 3222-63

Omid^p,t²⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Robert Hogg⁽¹⁰⁾| T: Kenneth Slack| OR: 110| CD

15/2

Not the most reliable sort but did land a gamble in this race last year when he returning to form out of the blue (dominated the race) but fell in his only subsequent hurdles start. Offered little when well beaten on the Flat (AW) recently but has to be watched and respected in the market given his history in this race.

Form: 37P/61F-

Shantou Tiger^p²⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: Lorcan Murtagh⁽⁷⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 109| C

11/1

Has won around here before over shorter as one of his four wins over hurdles (made all in all four wins) and will be one of the pace setters again here. Has looked a little lack-lustre of late over hurdles and fences and could well face competition for the lead here.

Form: 284-424

Tuscan Gold^p⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 11-7| J: H Thompson Brown⁽¹⁰⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 105| D

5/1

Has been running well on the Flat of late over marathon trips at Pontefract and returns to hurdling now having been successful in this sphere over a staying trip at Catterick in January. Testing conditions caused his downfall on his only subsequent start and his Flat form gives him a chance here off a 5lb higher mark than his last win.

Form: 936215-

Railway Icon⁵¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-6| J: Michael Heard⁽⁵⁾| T: K Bishop| OR: 104

28/1

Has been running in point-to-points for his former trainer in Ireland (placed form) and now starts life with a new yard having not run under Rules since 2015. Fitness is assured and it will be interesting to see what the market makes of him.

Form: 222-32P

What A Game^b³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: Mr William Easterby⁽⁷⁾| T: T D Easterby| OR: 95| C

10/3

Certainly looks as though he didn't take to chasing at all in four starts over the larger obstacles but soon got back on track with a hurdles win here over shorter in May winning a race he had won the previous year. Those remain his only two hurdles wins (both off a mark of 88) and he's now back off a mark over a longer trip that he's been beaten off before on several occasions.

Form: 4566-P1

Nicki's Nipper^p³⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 10-10| J: Jonathan England| T: S England| OR: 94| C

12/1

Rather underwhelming with her form of late and hasn't looked as good as she did when winning at Sedgefield in April off a mark of 89 over 3m3f. Inconsistency is a big worry with her and she really needs to bounce back from some poor runs.

Form: 231-P4P

Turtle Cask⁹³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-9| J: B S Hughes| T: M E Sowersby| OR: 93| D

9/2

had plenty of troughs and peaks with the former the more prevalent trait and he's not scored since December 2015. He did run a respectable race for on his final race for his former yard at Wetherby in March and would have a chance if he reproduces that starting out for a new stable.

Form: 457273-

Court Baloo^p⁸⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-2| J: Craig Nichol| T: A C Whillans| OR: 86

11/1

Scored on his handicap debut at Bangor in first-time cheekpieces after a three month break and looked well suited by the good ground on that occasion. His subsequent starts haven't really backed up the promise of that run although he has now fallen back to his winning mark but this does require a little more.

Form: 8/13P37-

Non-Runners

Minnie Milan²

Weight: 11-12| Age: 8

T: B Butterworth J: A Nicol

Forecasts

What A Game (10/3), Turtle Cask (9/2), Overtheedge (9/2), Tuscan Gold (5/1), Omid (15/2), Shantou Tiger (11/1), Court Baloo (11/1), Nicki's Nipper (12/1), Minnie Milan (16/1), Railway Icon (28/1)

There are a couple of solid types in here like Overtheedge and Minnie Milan and they should run their races but there are some more who may be able to bounce back here and are worth watching in the market. Turtle Cask and Railway Icon fall into that category and Tuscan Gold would have a chance if he reproduces his Flat form. OMID has Robert Hogg taking off a valuable 10lb off as he bids to follow-up his win last year and he looks to have been readied for this with a few Flat spins of late.