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12:30 Cartmel
Four of the seven contenders for this contest have scored over course and distance making this a very competitive affair with a number of potential victors.
Dalkingstown comes into this race looking for a hat-trick for the team of Peter and Sean Bowen. He seems very versatile ground wise, however three of his five wins under rules have come at Worcester and he is the only horse in this line up not to have won here at Cartmel and he will have to be at his very best to defy an extra 3lb today.
Benito gets the services of champion jockey, Brian Hughes, for this race and is very interesting going up in trip today. He has ran two very pleasing efforts for his new connections at this track and will be hoping to defy his new mark here. From his run last time, the step up in trip doesn’t look sure to suit and for that reason, I’m going against him today.
The mare, Liffeydale Dreamer, looks held off this revised mark despite being impressive in a fourteen length success over course and distance back in May. She was second in this race last year to another mare Catchmeifyoucan who reopposes this year on better terms. She will have gained a lot of confidence from maybe a slightly fortuitous win last time out, but she will love the step back up in trip and she is my pick for this contest today.
CATCHMEIFYOUCAN (WIN)
14:05 Cartmel
The feature race at Cartmel this afternoon seas just the five runners go to post but it does look to be the most exciting race on the card this afternoon.
Sword of Fate has won over course and distance here but the 9yo is starting to look a little high in the weights and may need help from the handicapper before he is winning again. Another course and distance winner, Tonto’s Spirit, loves Cartmel and was a course and distance winner only eleven months ago. He has looked out of form recently, however, and needs a revival under Conor O’Farrell today.
Sir Tivo has an excellent strike rate over fences and it would be no surprise to see a big run from him here, however, he is now back on a career high mark and this now demands more from him giving weight all around here to his rivals today.
Dr Sanderson is still competitively handicapped on his best form but his best efforts do tend to come over a longer distance and he may just find one too quick here today.
That horse, I believe, will be Lermoos Legend. He is a horse very much on an upward curve for the Peter Bowen yard and has a good strike rate so far in his career. He steps back down in grade here again today, and there could be more to come from this in-form gelding, receiving weight from his main two rivals here today and he looks a very strong candidate to take this prize.
LERMOOS LEGEND (WIN)
written by Tom Bates