led, ridden last, headed flat, kept on
tracked leader, challenged 3 out, kept on, every chance until ridden, weakened before last
mid-division, lost place 4 out, no danger after
held up, steady headway 2 out, ridden to lead flat, edged left, stayed on towards finish
not fluent, chased leaders, effort 2 out, every chance approaching last, ridden, no extra flat
behind, headway to chase leaders 2 out, ridden, weakened last
mid-division, pushed along 4th, soon lost place, weakened 3 out, tailed off
prominent, outpaced after 3 out, weakened next
Nonrunner
Monsieur may be able to go one better this afternoon with Storm Prospect, Nevsky Bridge and Cumbrian Knight others that could feature. The selection's jumping fell apart over fences last season but he has gradually got his confidence back over hurdles and ran his best race for some time when second at Wetherby. He's on a decent mark, handles the ground and should go well. Conditions are on the fast side for Inch High whilst Cumbrian Knight has won four times on the level since his last National Hunt win in 2005 and it's hard to make a case for him regaining the winning thread today although he could make the frame. Nevsky Bridge put some poor runs behind her to go close last time but that may not have been the strongest race that Cartmel has ever hosted. Woody Valentine is of interest on the pick of his old form but has a bit to prove whereas Storm Prospect comes here on the back of a couple of decent efforts and has to be on the short-list. Preference though is for Monsieur.
Inch High 14-1 (11-2) Tracked leader, led 5th, headed 4 out, soon ridden, no extra from 2 out, 6th of 8, 22l behind Tartan Snow (11-6) at Kelso 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gs in May.
Monsieur (FR) 9-4jt-fav (11-10) Led to 3rd, with leader, every chance when hit 3 out, soon driven and outpaced, 2nd of 6, 2l behind Mr Aitch (11-7) at Wetherby 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gf in May.
Woody Valentine (USA) 50-1 (10-13) With leader, lost place 4 out, soon ridden and weakened, behind when pulled up 2 out in race won by Lennon (11-5) at Perth 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft in Apr '07, 13 ran.
Storm Prospect 9-2 (11-12) Held up, mistake 2nd, headway 4 out, left 4th when hampered 2 out, kept on same pace, no impression, 4th of 10, 10l behind Weet Yer Tern (10-12) at Wetherby 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in May.
Cumbrian Knight (IRE) 14-1 (10-3) Tracked leader, challenged after 4 out, ridden and outpaced after next, weakened from 2 out, 4th of 6, 17l behind Lord On The Run (10-13) at Wetherby 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in May.
Mount Usher 50-1 (10-12) Held up, mistake 3rd, behind from next, blundered 2 out, 7th of 13, well behind Beherayn (11-5) at Huntingdon 2m nov hdl (4) gf in May.
Teviot Lass 9-2 (10-13) Mid-division, headway 7th, effort 3 out, weakened before next, 8th of 13, 38l behind Nelliedonethat (11-12) at Sedgefield 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gf in May.
Haroum (USA) 50-1 (9-13) In touch, chased winner after 4th until ridden and outpaced before 2 out, no impression approaching last, 5th of 15, 10l behind Thunderclap (10-2) at Wetherby 2m nov hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd.
Nevsky Bridge 8-1 (10-2) Mid-division, headway 2 out, ridden and kept on under pressure flat, went 2nd near finish, 2nd of 11, 1/2l behind Scutch Mill (11-9) at Cartmel 2m 1f cnd hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gs in May.
