There’s Bank Holiday racing at Cartmel on Monday, one of the most picturesque race courses in the UK.
We’ve got free Cartmel tips on-site from our tipping duo, Alan Kelly and Charlie McCann, including Alan’s Nap of the Day selection.
Alan Kelly - 2:55pm Cartmel - Wonderwall (Each-Way)
Running off a mark of 134 when far from disgraced in finishing 13th in last year’s County Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival when trained by Richard Spencer, the eight-year-old WONDERWALL (Each-Way) has taken a few runs before showing any decent level of form since joining the Peter & Michael Bowen stable.
However, on his most recent start in a competitive 2m 4f handicap at Aintree 10 days ago, the Yeats gelding ran his best race for some time in finishing third, only weakening close home after holding every chance on the long run-in. The handicapper dropped Wonderwall 2lb to a mark of 120 following that effort, a rating which makes the each-way selection an attractive proposition based on previous performances, including when comfortably beating Nicky Henderson’s City Chief at Doncaster as a novice.
The Bowen stable has an excellent record when sending runners to this popular Cumbrian track and with prize money of £35k up for grabs, a big run is expected from the mount of James Bowen.
Charlie McCann - 4:05pm Cartmel - Pay The Piper (Each-Way)
The extended 2m 1f chase at Cartmel is a cracker, and Boonbawm was an impressive winner of a Beginners Chase at Warwick on his first start over fences. That was on good ground, however, and there is every chance that conditions will be nearer soft than good to soft if the forecast for Sunday is correct.
I thought Onemorefortheroad bumped into a progressive type at Kempton last time and lost nothing in defeat. He is another who would not want too much rain, and preference is for PAY THE PIPER (Each-Way), who would not be inconvenienced on soft ground and should have the race run to suit.
I thought he ran an excellent race when runner-up at Newcastle on his penultimate start over 2m 4f when caught close home/idled. He found things happening too quickly when dropped back to the minimum trip on good ground last time, but these conditions ought to be ideal.
There are no prices at the time of writing, but I hope he will be an each-way price around 6/1.
Alan Kelly - 4:40pm Cartmel - Line Of Descent (Nap)
The Warren Greatrex-trained LINE OF DESCENT (Nap) showed his liking for this unique Cumbrian racecourse when winning a handicap here by a comfortable seven lengths 12 months ago, albeit over a trip some three and a half furlong shorter than will be the case on this occasion.
The mount of Sean Bowen went on to win at Southwell a month later over a trip similar to that of today and following a respectable effort when third, beaten just a length, on his reappearance at Ffos Las last month, the six-year-old should take plenty of beating back on a track that clearly suits.
The selection gets plenty of weight from all but one of his rivals, the most dangerous of which may be Nicky Henderson’s chasing debutante Will Carver.
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