August 26 / 16.00 Cartmel

16.00

Soft

Fitzdares Cartmel Cup Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £10744.19
  • 2m 1f 46y
  • Class 3
  • 10 runners
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Fitzdares Cartmel Cup Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 10 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

11/4 (Won)

  • Win: £5.50
  • Place: £2.10

Form: 11

Last run: 39 days

W: 10st 13lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 113

Form & Verdict
Three-time Flat winner (1m3f-1m7f), two of those successes coming in France; has taken to hurdling with aplomb, scoring twice over 2m at Southwell (good/good to soft) this summer; pulled clear last time with a rival who followed up by a wide margin three weeks later; faces a sterner assignment now handicapping but could easily have more to offer.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

8

1st Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 171y

Class 4

14:30 Musselburgh

Young Merlin

11st 9lb

J: Benjamin Macey

T: Rebecca Menzies

Has several pieces of placed form (Flat/hurdles) for current yard but his losing sequence is mounting up; not the percentage call in this competitive affair.

16/1

2nd

9

(5)

23rd Oct 2025

Soft

2m 1f 208y

Class 5

15:00 Nottingham

Young Merlin

8st 11lb

J: David Allan

T: Rebecca Menzies

Runner-up on stable debut at Musselburgh (2m, good) in July and he's fine on testing ground; however, this 9yo has failed to threaten on his last two outings and needs something extra today.

12/1

5th

6

(5)

30th Sep 2025

Soft

1m 7f 0y

Class 6

17:05 Ayr

Young Merlin

9st 10lb

J: Kaiya Fraser

T: Rebecca Menzies

Won three Flat races at up to 1m7f when trained in France (including on heavy) and has since won three times over hurdles for Amy Murphy; good second on stable debut at Musselburgh in July (2m, good) but lesser run last time (2m1f, good to soft); each-way chance.

11/2

33/1

  • Place: £8.10

Form: 586P6- D

Last run: 175 days

W: 10st 4lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 104

Form & Verdict
Managed a surprise win on the Flat in a muddling race at Beverley (1m2f, heavy) in July but he then ran poorly at Ripon two weeks later; tailed off both hurdles outings for this yard; others make more appeal.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

7th Jul 2024

Good

2m 0f 125y

Class 4

15:25 Market Rasen

Very Excellent

11st 8lb

J: Aaron Anderson

T: Mike Sowersby

Only 1-17 over hurdles but on a competitive mark and his recent Flat effort when close up at Ripon (1m2f) bodes well.

33/1

4th

5

(6)

20th Jun 2024

Soft

1m 1f 170y

Class 5

15:20 Ripon

Very Excellent

9st 10lb

J: James Sullivan

T: Mike Sowersby

Won over this trip at Beverley last July (heavy); now 2lb lower; quite interesting particularly if there is some give in the ground (below-par reappearance run on faster ground).

20/1

13th

13

(16)

3rd Jun 2024

Good To Soft

1m 2f 0y

Class 4

20:30 Wetherby

Very Excellent

8st 12lb

J: Cam Hardie

T: Mike Sowersby

steadied start, held up in rear

20/1

7/1

  • Place: £2.20

Form: 0-4363 D

Last run: 22 days

W: 10st 10lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Five wins last year but mostly in the doldrums since; seemed to perk up a bit for the refitting of cheekpieces when third of 11 at Bangor three weeks ago but the headgear is left off again today.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

11

18th Jul 2026

Good

2m 1f 46y

Class 3

15:10 Cartmel

Well Educated

10st 2lb

J: Tabitha Worsley

T: George Bewley

Runner-up three consecutive times at Hexham (2m-2m4f, good) this spring and also suited by this track but his latest run was below par and he's 2lb wrong today.

14/1

4th

5

21st Jun 2026

Good

2m 0f 48y

Class 3

15:43 Hexham

Well Educated

10st 5lb

J: Jonathon Bewley

T: George Bewley

No win since May 2024, but has run plenty of good races since; runner-up here on all three starts this season (2m/2m4f), last time finishing 9l behind to Perseus Way, who is 9lb worse off.

9/2

2nd

8

13th Jun 2026

Good

2m 4f 28y

Class 3

15:40 Hexham

Well Educated

10st 2lb

J: Jonathon Bewley

T: George Bewley

A head away from securing a fifth course win here last Saturday (2m); can number two C&D successes among that haul and respected again, for all that his record in the past three editions of this race reads 655.

9/1

Form: 5-3110 D

Last run: 35 days

W: 10st 12lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Easy to forgive a well-beaten run here last time when short of room, stumbling and suffering an overreach; had previously won his first two starts for Milton Harris (2m/2m1f) and there may be better to come for this yard; handles good ground and heavy.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

7th Sep 2024

Good

2m 2f 148y

Class 5

16:12 Stratford

Call Me Rocky

11st 5lb

J: Tristan Durrell

T: Anthony Charlton

Very well handicapped on some of last year's form for Milton Harris and but was out of sorts during three-race spell for Syd Hosie and pulled up on recent debut for latest new trainer; headgear refitted; revival needed.

25/1

9

28th Aug 2024

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

19:10 Worcester

Call Me Rocky

10st 11lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Anthony Charlton

Well treated now but lost his way badly after leaving Milton Harris and tried chasing last time; too risky.

20/1

4

1st Jun 2024

Good To Soft

2m 0f 213y

Class 4

20:30 Stratford

Call Me Rocky

11st 13lb

J: Micheal Nolan

T: Syd Hosie

in touch with leaders, prominent after 8th, weakened 3 out, pulled up after 2 out

8/1

8/1

Form: 111257 BF

Last run: 22 days

W: 10st 5lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 105

Form & Verdict
Started off for Peter Bowen with two handicap wins at Ffos Las (2m, good) in the spring; fifth in the Summer Hurdle at Market Rasen was respectable but he should have fared better when beating only one home at Bangor last time.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

8

30th Jan 2026

Heavy

1m 7f 182y

Class 4

16:00 Ffos Las

Gavin

10st 4lb

J: Shane Fenelon

T: Mickey Bowen

Gained last three wins over C&D but they were on good ground; failed to beat a rival on heavy going here (race won by El Gavilan) last time; forecast conditions look unfavourable.

16/1

4

16th Oct 2025

Good

1m 7f 182y

Class 4

15:50 Ffos Las

Gavin

11st 5lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Mickey Bowen

Dominated from the front over C&D (good) in May and has largely remained in good form since; slightly disappointing when well-held fourth in recent selling handicap at Newton Abbot (2m2f, good) but still enters calculations.

3/1

4th

3

29th Sep 2025

Good

2m 2f 110y

Class 5

14:31 Newton Abbot

Gavin

11st 5lb

J: Shane Fenelon

T: Mickey Bowen

Dominated from the front at Ffos Las (2m, good) in May and has largely remained in good form since; well held when second in selling handicap at Stratford (2m2f, good) this month but the winner has performed well in much stronger company since; probably won't be far away.

7/2

OUR TIP

Form: P-1F23 D

Last run: 35 days

W: 12st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 128

Form & Verdict
Gradually rising in the weights but that looks fully justified and he was a fine third of 12 in the Summer Hurdle at Market Rasen (2m1f, soft) last month; usually delivered with a late run; should be thereabouts again.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

11

16th Dec 2023

Good To Soft

2m 0f 128y

Class 2

14:40 Doncaster

Glorious Zoff

10st 2lb

J: Liam Harrison

T: Fergal O’Brien

He's 8lb higher than when winning at Warwick (2m, good) in May but posted some good efforts in defeat in handicaps subsequently and ran as well as could be expected in a Grade 2 last time; each-way claims.

12/1

3rd

2

11th Nov 2023

Soft

1m 7f 50y

Class 1

15:00 Wincanton

Glorious Zoff

11st 2lb

J: Liam Harrison

T: Fergal O’Brien

took keen hold, held up in rear, not fluent 5 out, headway after 3 out, no impression from 2 out

50/1

0

8

27th Oct 2023

Good To Soft

2m 0f 87y

Class 3

13:35 Cheltenham

Glorious Zoff

10st 13lb

J: Liam Harrison

T: Fergal O’Brien

Seemingly revitalised by a wind op in early part of this season (unlucky not to complete a double) and has held his form well since but will probably find others in this field better handicapped.

20/1

Form: 28-056 CD

Last run: 55 days

W: 10st 11lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 111

Form & Verdict
Unseated rider early on when favourite for this race 12 months ago (now 5lb lower); unplaced last four starts but he's slipping in the weights and there was more encouragement to be gleaned from a sixth of 12 over C&D at the start of July; local yard won this contest in 2019 and 2021; interesting.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

7

23rd Aug 2025

Good

2m 1f 46y

Class 5

14:10 Cartmel

Vocal Duke

10st 11lb

J: Alan Doyle

T: James Moffatt

Regressive 9yo but ran okay in this new headgear combination last time when rallying into fifth, finishing behind Mojo Ego and Heart Above; that's something to build on; Alan Doyle claimed 5lb that day but can't now.

8/1

9

21st Jul 2025

Good

2m 1f 46y

Class 5

13:42 Cartmel

Vocal Duke

10st 11lb

J: Alan Doyle

T: James Moffatt

Regressive 9yo who is yet to add to his C&D win in June 2022; ran well for a long way when placed at Hexham (2m, good to soft) last month but was soundly beaten here a fortnight later; cheekpieces refitted today.

16/1

Form: 75-113 CD

Last run: 35 days

W: 10st 6lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 106

Form & Verdict
Likes it at Cartmel and won in a lower grade over C&D in May and June; creditable third of 12 here five weeks ago but now contests a stronger race and he'll need more to resume winning ways off the same mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

19th Jul 2025

Good To Soft

2m 1f 46y

Class 3

14:50 Cartmel

Calevade

10st 11lb

J: Harriet Tucker

T: Ben Haslam

Gained all four hurdling wins over C&D (good-soft); well beaten here last month, after a layoff, and Miss Maverick is unlikely to allow him an uncontested lead today but, nevertheless, his course record can't be ignored.

20/1

9th

3

27th Jun 2025

Good

2m 1f 46y

Class 4

17:30 Cartmel

Calevade

11st 13lb

J: Mr Toby McCain-Mitchell

T: Ben Haslam

Gained all four hurdling wins over C&D (good-soft), including the last two editions of this race; absent since poor Flat run in October but there's a good chance he'll be primed to make a bold bid from the front today.

10/1

11th

6

(9)

2nd Oct 2024

Good To Soft

1m 7f 189y

Class 6

15:23 Catterick

Calevade

9st 3lb

J: Joanna Mason

T: Ben Haslam

C&D winner (good to soft); returns to this code after a successful spell over hurdles; was below par when seen here (1m6f, good to firm) in June but it would be no surprise to see him closely involved now on slower ground, back up in trip and from 2lb lower.

11/2

Form: 07-5VP D

Last run: 50 days

W: 11st 2lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 116

Form & Verdict
Formerly game front-runner; enjoyed finest hour when making all in a Grade 2 novice at Cheltenham in 2020 but recent efforts have left much to be desired; folded tamely at Newton Abbot last time; now wears cheekpieces.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

5

3rd May 2025

Good

2m 3f 207y

Class 3

18:30 Uttoxeter

For Pleasure

10st 13lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

led, headed 3 out, weakened after 2 out

11/4

5th

5

3rd May 2025

Good

2m 3f 207y

Class 3

18:30 Uttoxeter

For Pleasure

10st 13lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Multiple winner but a 10yo now and the handicapper knows the score with him; no match for the winner last time at Fakenham (2m4f, good) where he kept jumping to the right; wouldn't want to repeat that here.

11/4

2nd

1

1st Apr 2025

Good

2m 4f 1y

Class 3

16:20 Fakenham

For Pleasure

12st 0lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

jumped right throughout, led, headed before last, kept on

5/1

Form: PD121/5 D

Last run: 32 days

W: 10st 8lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 108

Form & Verdict
Bangor winner two years ago but finished tailed off after a long absence at Southwell (50-1) in July; dropped 4lb since but not especially appealing.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

9

6th Sep 2023

Good

2m 4f 28y

Class 4

17:45 Hexham

Calum Gilhooley

11st 0lb

J: Joshua Thompson

T: David Thompson

Tailed off in both starts since returning from a long absence and needs to prove some of the old ability remains.

50/1

10th

7

26th Aug 2023

Soft

2m 1f 46y

Class 3

16:00 Cartmel

Calum Gilhooley

10st 8lb

J: Joshua Thompson

T: David Thompson

Bangor winner two years ago but finished tailed off after a long absence at Southwell (50-1) in July; dropped 4lb since but not especially appealing.

33/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £168.40
Straight Forecast £141.08
Tricast £1312.67
Trifecta £388.80

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Young Merlin

POSTDATA:

Glorious Zoff

D Express:

Well Educated

TOPSPEED:

Gavin

The Times:

Call Me Rocky

SPOTLIGHT:

Vocal Duke

Daily Mail:

Calevade

WEST COUNTRY:

Glorious Zoff

Telegraph:

Young Merlin

The Guardian:

Young Merlin

Daily Mirror:

Young Merlin

The Sun:

Young Merlin

The Star:

Young Merlin

Daily Record:

Young Merlin