May 29 / 18.50 Cartmel

18.50

Good

Hales Of Cartmel Handicap Hurdle (Div I)

  • Prize money: £4136.38
  • 2m 6f 31y
  • Class 4
  • 7 runners
RTV
View Course
Hales Of Cartmel Handicap Hurdle (Div I)

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

OUR TIP

3/1 (Won)

  • Win: £2.63
  • Place: £1.50

Form: 2111-5

Last run: 18 days

W: 11st 6lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Won Kelso maiden (2m5f, good) and two Sedgefield handicaps (2m4f, good/soft) last autumn, and made a pleasing reappearance at Hexham this month; could still have more improvement to come; highly respected.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

3

25th May 2026

Good

3m 1f 83y

Class 2

15:23 Cartmel

Imperial Data

11st 10lb

J: Ellis Collier

T: Rebecca Menzies

Pulled up on soft ground this month, after a layoff, but this three-time course winner is now only 1lb higher than when holding on for narrow C&D (good) success last summer; dangerous to ignore.

20/1

4

9th May 2026

Good

2m 4f 28y

Class 3

17:42 Hexham

Imperial Data

11st 12lb

J: Ellis Collier

T: Rebecca Menzies

Six hurdle wins, latest over 3m1f at Cartmel last August (good); high enough in the ratings at present, lacks a recent run and perhaps best watched this time.

12/1

3

25th Sep 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 207y

Class 2

16:18 Perth

Imperial Data

10st 10lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Rebecca Menzies

Progressive 8yo who has collected two good prizes at Cartmel (2m6f/3m1f, good) since tongue-tie was refitted in July; latest 4lb rise does not look excessive but this more conventional track may not suit quite so well.

3/1

11/2

  • Place: £2.50

Form: 35525-

Last run: 179 days

W: 12st 0lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
Seven-time hurdle winner (2m-2m3f) when trained by John Mackie; sold for £22,000 during the winter; has fitness and stamina to prove today but starts off for James Moffatt on a good mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

7

25th Aug 2025

Good

2m 5f 34y

Class 3

16:43 Cartmel

Hurricane Ali

11st 4lb

J: Charlotte Jones

T: James Moffatt

Seven-time hurdle winner; only his third run over fences when second here a month ago but never went a yard here on Saturday and was pulled up in this new aids combination.

12/1

2

23rd Aug 2025

Good

2m 1f 61y

Class 4

17:05 Cartmel

Hurricane Ali

11st 12lb

J: Charlotte Jones

T: James Moffatt

9yo whose losing sequence goes all the way back to September 2022 but he returned to form when second over C&D (soft) last month and is also fine on good ground; a tongue-tie is added; possible player.

9/2

5

21st Jul 2025

Good

2m 1f 61y

Class 3

15:45 Cartmel

Hurricane Ali

10st 8lb

J: Charlotte Jones

T: James Moffatt

Seven-time hurdle winner who was useful on good ground in his prime; launched chasing career with two very respectable runs here (2m1f/2m5f) in May and was not disgraced in competitive 2m6f handicap hurdle here on Saturday (albeit finishing behind Sea The Clouds); could have a say.

7/1

Form: 76255- C

Last run: 149 days

W: 10st 11lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 103

Form & Verdict
Regressive 8yo who is yet to add to his 2m1f course win two years ago and has a fair bit to prove stamina-wise today; absent since modest fifth at Catterick on New Year's Day; others appeal more.
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: 16312- D

Last run: 57 days

W: 11st 0lb

8 yo Mare

OR: 106

Form & Verdict
Dual hurdle and four-time chase winner when trained in France but easily beaten in a match race (over fences) on last month's British debut and remains a difficult mare to weigh up.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

5

29th May 2024

Good

2m 6f 31y

Class 4

18:50 Cartmel

Gastibelza

11st 0lb

J: Alice Stevens

T: Micky Hammond

Dual hurdle and four-time chase winner when trained in France but easily beaten in a match race (over fences) on last month's British debut and remains a difficult mare to weigh up.

10/1

2nd

2

2nd Apr 2024

Soft

2m 4f 11y

Class 4

14:00 Ludlow

Gastibelza

11st 6lb

J: Alice Stevens

T: Micky Hammond

Four-time chase winner in France, most recently when drawing 15l clear in Fontainebleau claimer (2m3f, heavy) in February; it's tricky to gauge how well that form will transfer to Britain but at least we know she's in very good nick.

9/4

2nd

2

2nd Apr 2024

Soft

2m 4f 11y

Class 4

14:00 Ludlow

Gastibelza

11st 6lb

J: Alice Stevens

T: Micky Hammond

Four-time chase winner in France, most recently when drawing 15l clear in Fontainebleau claimer (2m3f, heavy) in February; it's tricky to gauge how well that form will transfer to Britain but at least we know she's in very good nick.

9/4

Form: 3624/S

Last run: 14 days

W: 10st 5lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 97

Form & Verdict
Completed quick double at Ayr (2m3f/3m) in November 2021 but had been absent for 26 months before his run at Perth a fortnight ago, where he was in rear when slipping up on the home turn; considered only if lively in the betting here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

10th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 70y

Class 4

15:35 Ayr

Be The Difference

11st 13lb

J: Joe Williamson

T: Philip Kirby

Three-time winner this season (2m5f-3m; soft) but subsequent defeats would suggest that the handicapper may now be in charge.

7/1

Form: 13423-

Last run: 59 days

W: 11st 11lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
Won Cork maiden for Gordon Elliott in the autumn and ran well in defeat in Warwick novice (2m, soft) for new stable in March; below that form on heavy ground later that month (2m4f) but has been given a good chance by the handicapper here; tongue-tie added.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

3

21st Jun 2025

Good

2m 1f 77y

Class 4

15:55 Bangor-on-Dee

Tactical Affair

11st 3lb

J: James Bowen

T: Warren Greatrex

The more his mark has eased this spring and summer the better he's done over fences, culminating in last month's Stratford success (2m1f, good); chance likely rests on whether he's derived sufficient confidence from that experience to defy going back up 10lb.

13/8

1st

1

18th May 2025

Good

2m 0f 213y

Class 5

15:55 Stratford

Tactical Affair

12st 0lb

J: James Bowen

T: Warren Greatrex

0-6 over fences; bounced back from poor performance when keeping on well to snatch never-dangerous second at Worcester (2m, good) 12 days ago but others here have more convincing profiles.

3/1

1st

1

18th May 2025

Good

2m 0f 213y

Class 5

15:55 Stratford

Tactical Affair

12st 0lb

J: James Bowen

T: Warren Greatrex

0-6 over fences; bounced back from poor performance when keeping on well to snatch never-dangerous second at Worcester (2m, good) 12 days ago but others here have more convincing profiles.

3/1

Form: 25645- D

Last run: 34 days

W: 11st 4lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Dual point winner last year; returned from layoff with quite encouraging hurdle run at Perth (2m4f, soft) last month and remains very well handicapped on old form but and others have more persuasive profiles.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

2

9th Sep 2024

Good To Soft

2m 7f 207y

Class 5

17:55 Perth

Western Run

12st 0lb

J: Ben Smith

T: R Mike Smith

Arrives on a long losing run but he wasn't disgraced when seventh of 15 over C&D 23 days ago; he's one to consider off an easing mark.

14/1

7th

1

17th Aug 2024

Good

2m 7f 207y

Class 5

19:05 Perth

Western Run

12st 0lb

J: Ben Smith

T: R Mike Smith

No rules win since October 2020; took a firm step back in the right direction when keeping on into fourth over 2m4f here (good) last month; 2lb lower dropping into a 0-105; tempting back at 3m.

7/1

4th

6

14th Jul 2024

Good

2m 4f 35y

Class 4

15:15 Perth

Western Run

11st 2lb

J: Ben Smith

T: R Mike Smith

Won a couple of points in March/April 2023; below form at Perth and Carlisle since returning from eight-month break and best watched.

20/1

Non-runners

Our Laura B, Kidman

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £10.70
Straight Forecast £10.44
Tricast £54.52
Trifecta £46.20

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Imperial Data

POSTDATA:

Tactical Affair

Telegraph:

Gastibelza

TOPSPEED:

Hurricane Ali

RP RATINGS:

Western Run

Daily Mail:

Tactical Affair

The Times:

Imperial Data

The Guardian:

Imperial Data

Daily Mirror:

Imperial Data

The Sun:

Imperial Data

The Star:

Imperial Data

Daily Record:

Gastibelza

D Express:

Hurricane Ali