Sir Cliff Richard At Cartmel Racecourse Open Hunters' Chase

Off time: 19:50 | Winning time: 7m 7.1s

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Selected odds by:

Man Of Steel^p,t²⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 12-2| J: Jack Andrews⁽³⁾| T: A Hill| OR: 113| BF| CD

7/2

Puts his unbeaten record in this event on the line (won the race past three years) but has proved inconsistent in points this year; refused last time out (not for the first time). This looks a stronger contest this time around; has to be respected.

Form: 1RP11-R

Carter Mckay³⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Lily Pinchin⁽⁵⁾| T: C C Pimlott| OR: 130

4/5

Not often you will see these colours in this sphere or around Cartmel but he does have a touch of class (placed in a Grade 1 novice hurdle). Previously struggled over fences prior winning in a weak hunter chase last time; needs to prove stamina.

Form: 0/75621-

Greensalt^t²¹

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr William Easterby| T: W Easterby| OR: 115

11/4

Won half of his points (5-10) and underlined his ability by finishing third in the 2018 Aintree Foxhunters (seventh in the race this year). Off the mark under Rules in a Kelso hunter chase (2m5f); needing every yard of that trip, not out of this.

Form: 33/B27-1

Munsaab³³²

Age: 13| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr Thomas Greenwood⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss C E Dean| OR: 108| CD

20/1

Has performed well over C&D when with Jimmy Moffatt (last win came off a mark of 120) but he ran poorly here on his last two runs for that yard when last seen. Hit the veteran stage now; plenty to prove starting out with a new yard.

Form: 5437/6P-

Play The Ace^p,t¹³

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr James King| T: M Bowen| OR: 122

8/1

Respected on his chase record under Rules (8-29) but there must be a doubt about his stamina even around this sharp test. Pulled up when failing to come on for a recent run last time at Fontwell; revival very much needed to enter the equation.

Form: 76294-P

Sposalizio^b,t³

Age: 12| Weight: 11-12| J: J M Andrews⁽⁷⁾| T: C T Dawson| OR: 90| C

33/1

Well beaten in this last year on the back of a walkover in points; has since added three further wins in that sphere but only in weak small-field events (finished alone in point on Sunday). Hard to envisage him making much impression this time.

Form: P31-211

Non-Runners

Streets Of Milan³

Weight: 12-0| Age: 8

T: C C Pimlott J: Mr Joe Wright

Forecasts

Carter Mckay (4/5), Greensalt (11/4), Man Of Steel (7/2), Play The Ace (8/1), Munsaab (20/1), Streets Of Milan (20/1), Sposalizio (33/1)

Stamina even around this fairly sharp test may decide the day here and it’s obvious that the three-time winner of this event Man Of Steel has that requirement covered although his recent form in points leaves something to be desired and this renewal is a stronger one. It’s hard to argue with the class of Carter McKay but doubts about his stamina were far from answered last time in an easy Sedgefield win. GREENSALT has taken his time to get off the mark under Rules but his two efforts in the Aintree Foxhunters mark him as useful and he looked to need all the 2m5f last time at Kelso; this trip around a track like this could be just what he needs.