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15:05 Cartmel
A class 3 novice chase race which doesn't look the strongest of races.
Seems a big ask for Oishin at the weights and will probably struggle here was a long way back at Hexham last time out and hard to see him getting involved today. Taxmeifyoucan is the other outsider here you have to go back to July 2017 when he last won on good ground all his other wins have had soft in the description (currently ground is good) difficult to make a case for.
Gavin Cromwell sends over Western Run but he is yet to win a chase race in 9 runs. This is a new trip for Western Run so I guess Gavin Cromwell is seeing if this has the desire effect. Jumping could be sharpened up a bit as well in previous runs it has let him down a little bit. Has the champion jockey on board which may help Western Run today.
Shantou Express is the market favourite but is almost odds on. Kim Bailey doesn't have many summer jumpers and its interesting he makes his chase debut today. Has been running over the summer campaign with some good success and is really a stayer and he showed that when winning at Stratford.
Can see why he is favourite as usually Kim Bailey horses tend to make better chasers in time and at the age of 7 Shantou Express seems the right time to become a chaser and could be a useful summer chaser for Kim Bailey in the future.
But for value and at just about an each way price I'm tempted to go with Rapid Flight. Rapid Flight is another that has been in consistent form over the summer campaign. Has ran twice at Cartmel winning once and a 2nd last time out. Has a liking for this course which does count for something at Cartmel. He does have a penalty here though for his recent runs but Charlotte Jones takes a handy 3 pounds of which eases the burden slightly. Worth a shot here Rapid Flight at this trip and at a course he likes racing around. Will be hard to maybe beat the favourite but finishing the top 2 isn't out of the question and if Shantou Express doesn't take to fences, I can see Rapid Flight taking advantage.
RAPID FLIGHT (E/W) 17:20 Cartmel
The last race sees 7 runners go on the Cartmel card. Quoteline Direct makes a rare appearance for Mickey Hammond on the hurdle scene in what will be only his 5th run over under national hunt rules. Becky Smith takes a handy 3 pounds off.
Breaking Records needs some form of revival after pulling up in his last 2 races but has been backwards since along with Aint No Sunshine who is another after a promising winning start to his career has appeared to gone backwards.
On paper it looks a three-horse race with Haveyougotmymoney winning at Uttoxeter last time out though he has gone up in the weights which makes this task a bit more difficult.
Ted Hastings is the Irish raider for Gordon Elliot and has won at Ayr this season. He was also 2nd last time out in a class 3 hurdle race so you could argue has the strongest piece of form going into the race.
My selection though is Battle Of Toro absolutely bolted up last time out at Cartmel winning by 24 lengths has gone up in weights to 7 pounds but Charlotte Jones takes off 3 pounds of that. If Battle Of Toro repeats that performance, he only has to improve a little bit to win again I believe. Cartmel is a quirky track some horses take to it others don't. Horses that win on this course tend to win again on the course down the line. The fact Battle Of Toro has won over course and distance gives me added confidence as well.
Is a little short in price but Gordon Elliot having the 2nd favourite here currently Battle Of Toro may drift in price so the price might become a bit more attractive.
BATTLE OF TORO (WIN) written by Luke Tucker