Another Gem from the Lake District
Well now, wasn't that a proper day's racing at Cartmel? Seven races of honest National Hunt action on good to soft going that rode beautifully all afternoon. The punters got their money's worth and this old scribe spotted more than a few horses that'll be worth following through the summer and beyond.
The going description of good to soft, good in places, was bang on the money. That's proper jumping ground, the sort that separates the wheat from the chaff and lets the good horses show their true colours. None of this firm nonsense that has half the field pulling up lame.
Feature Race Delivers the Goods
The day's feature had to be that Class 3 handicap hurdle at 2:15, the Tiptop Clean Convenience Handicap, and what a field they assembled. The Kemble Brewery and Authodidacte both carrying top weight of 127 told you everything about the quality on show.
David Bass on The Kemble Brewery looked the business in the preliminaries, and you'd have to fancy anything Charlie Deutsch climbs aboard these days - the lad's riding with serious confidence. But the one that caught my eye was Cosmic Connection with Bryan Carver doing the steering. Rated 123, this one's been knocking on the door and Carver's 5lb claim could prove crucial in a race like this.
Further down the weights, Lacrima with Lorcan Murtagh looked attractively handicapped off 115. Sometimes it pays to look beyond the obvious favourites, and this one screams value to me.
Mares Making Their Mark
The two mares' contests provided some fascinating viewing, particularly that novices' hurdle at 1:05. Tenter Le Tout came in as the form horse with a rating of 123, and Freddie Gingell knows his way around this track better than most.
But in races like these, it's often the unexposed types that spring surprises. Molten Sea for Tom Broughton caught my attention - any horse making their debut for that yard deserves respect, and the booking of a claiming jockey suggests they're confident about the horse's ability.
The later mares' handicap hurdle over the extended trip looked a cracking betting heat. Presenting Doy topped the weights but looked well-treated, while I Am The Moon could be anything off that mark.
Chasers Show Their Class
Now we're talking! The two chase contests served up some proper jumping action. That 2:40 handicap chase was as competitive as you'll see anywhere, with Ostend and Koapey both rated 115 setting the standard.
But here's where it gets interesting - Ballybreeze with Brendan Powell caught my eye. Rated 112 and carrying the CD flags, this one knows the game inside out. Powell's booking tells you they expect a big run, and at the weights, this horse could easily nick it.
The longer chase at 2:50 over 2m7f looked tailor-made for the staying types. Happy And Fine with Jack Hogan looked the class act, but Sizable Sam for Bryan Carver could be the value play. Sometimes these extended trips catch the market napping.
Ones to Follow and Future Targets
Right, here's where the real value lies for the weeks ahead. From today's action, I'm marking down several for the notebook:
Planters Punch from the opener looked a class above despite his rating of 128. Any horse Daniel Williams sends to Cartmel deserves serious respect, and this one could be heading for better things at the summer festivals.
Cosmic Connection remains my banker for future handicaps. That rating of 123 won't last long if connections find the right race, and Bryan Carver's claim makes him doubly dangerous.
Don't sleep on The Newest One either. Brendan Powell doesn't travel to Cumbria for the scenery, and any horse carrying those CD flags at this track knows exactly what's required.
For the staying division, Thorgath in the finale looks a proper prospect. Cameron Iles is a name to follow, and off a mark of 98, this one could be anything over these longer trips.
Looking Ahead
The beauty of a day like today at Cartmel is that it throws up horses for all seasons. Some of these will be back for the summer circuit, others will be aimed at the bigger autumn prizes. The key is spotting them now before the handicapper and the betting public catch on.
Mark my words - we'll be seeing several of today's runners in much better company before the year's out. That's the magic of National Hunt racing, and why days like these at tracks like Cartmel remain the beating heart of our sport.
The going was perfect, the racing was honest, and the craic was mighty. What more could you ask for from a Saturday afternoon in the Lakes? Sláinte to that!
