Overall, the usual rules apply for Cartmel. The half mile run-in on chases, or slightly further with only one hurdle over the lesser obstacles, mean that the course is no place for shirkers to catch their rivals out but also that the form does not seem to work out at other locations, especially where the run-in is more set up for a dash to the line.

Tetley's Bitter Novice Handicap Hurdle [2m 1½f]

1: Mad Professor     2: Devils Delight     3: Countback

Winner owned: M Glastonbury, trained: Tim Vaughan, ridden: Richard Johnson

A very tricky opener, which is excellent marketing. Suss thus out and you think you are on for a blinding day, but fail and there is still non need to worry until you are past race six and still yet to collect a penny. Despite being only four, Mad Professor won this on his return from pointing, where he had a second and a ran out, which suggests that there is a reason behind the name (his dam is Fancy Theory). Not a hoof was put wrong here, and stronger handling may have helped, but there is the lurking threat that he may choose disgrace in the future. After setting the pace, Devils Delight replicated her improved run last time to end up second, but she has posted her two good runs in weak races. A stiff finish seems to suit her. Countback had top weight after winning a couple of recent sellers and ran an odd race. Held up at the back, and making a mistake or two, he seemed set to tail off at the third last, but finished strongest of all and was beaten less than a length, towing along Seattle Robber in his wake. 

Rogerson Group Handicap Hurdle [2m 6f]

1: Naomh Aaron     2: Only Words     3: Welsh Dream

Winner owned: Hope For The Best, trained: Evan Williams, ridden: Paul Moloney

Easier than the previous race only in that there were one or two non stayers involved, this allowed Naomh Aaron to make up for being disqualified at Hereford last time. The win was rather lucky as El Chaparral appeared to have pinched enough of a lead through the woods to secure victory, but hit the last and was forced to pull up lame when in front. The placed horses are both ten year olds that are above their highest winning mark, but not disastrously so. Only Words has always looked an out and out two miler, but if this was not a fluke, he now has more options at longer trips. Welsh Dream is more of a known quantity at the trip, but hope lies in the fact that this was his liveliest run in a while, apart from a course and distance effort in May.

Camera shy Compton Eclair & Wilson Renwick (10) put on a spurt to exit the shot, but Tobesure & William Kennedy (blue and orange) are more camera friendly. Quay Meadow & Fearghal Davis (maroon, white and orange) try to muscle in on the action, whereas those on the outer in various degrees of hiddenosity are Welsh Dream, El Chapparral, Border Tale. Local hero Peter's Imp poodles along disdainfully at the back

Weatherbys Bank Handicap Chase [3m 2f]

1: Innisfree     2: Shannon's Pride     3: Bob Bites Back

Winner owned: The Brave Lads Racing Syndicate, trained: Harriet Graham, ridden: Tom Messenger

A cracking close finish saw Innisfree pick up his third chase win, and having won only one of his first 17 chases, he proved that he has hit top form by making it two from the last three. He loves a sharp track, but beware lumping on him to follow up, as he ran an inexplicable stinker on his previous appearance. Shannon's Pride was given a patient ride at the back, but he got there to have every chance on the run-in, only for Innisfree to have too much up his sleeve. It looks hard work riding Bob Bites Back, as every time the jockey stops niggling for five seconds the horse takes the chance to ease off of the gas. Persistence and a great deal of stubbornness are the required jockey attributes. Raised seventeen pounds for a Hexham win, Manoubi was well beaten, but ran rather listlessly, as if it were more than just a high rating that was troubling him. Irish import The Green Hat is going to have to tidy up his jumping a great deal if he is to get anywhere as a chaser.

Betfair Beginners Chase [2m 1½f]

1: Litron     2: The Stickler     3: Daldini

Winner owned & Trained: Jimmy Lambe, ridden: Dominic Elsworth

In advance, this looked an OK sort of race, but the profile of the winner raises a few question marks. Litron's last win was back in May 2004, and his unimpressive chasing career included defeat in a couple of points. He won this without any ill fortune hitting his rivals, using his proven stamina to increase his lead after they left the woods. The Stickler ran really well to be chasing home Two Mile West last time, and this was probably not as good. Modest pointing form suggests that three miles is too far for him, but today did not prove whether the ideal is this or two and a half miles. Over hurdles Daldini was slow to translate talent into a win, and it seems he may be adopting the same cautious way upwards as a chaser. His jumping seems solid, so he ought to get there in the end. Despite a rating of just 68, Hollows Mist ran well out in front until a terrible error at the eighth. Normally, it would suggest that he is capable of running above his mark, but a history of mental frailty tempers the optimism. 

Frank Whittle Partnership Handicap Chase [2m 1½f]

1: Donovan     2: Star Galaxy     3: Caislean Na Deirge

Winner owned: Richard Guest Horseracing Ltd, trained: Richard Guest, ridden: Timmy Murphy

The win completed a set of wins at all UK courses for Timmy Murphy (although he ha sonly won on the turf course at Worcester, not the sub aqua one), but in all other respects it was a fairly unenlightening affair. Donovan is a law unto himself, ending a run of fourteen defeats after dropping a fair bit in the handicap, and beating off Star Galaxy, who has been at a personal peak of late, but is now 0/23 in his career - and three of his four places have come since May. Probably due to some bizarre accident, Caislean Na Deirge won a race two years earlier at Ballinrobe, but had not really had a squeak lately - perhaps he is inspired by lakes? Last time out, Quarry Island finally won over hurdles, but she has had two very uninspiring chase runs, and back over the smaller obstacles looks the way forward with her - if there is one. Back in fourth, Barney ran reasonably well, allowing for the motley gang of rogues, footpads and teddy boys around him, not quite seeing out the marathon run-in, but giving the impression he will do better.

John Green Birthday Maiden Hurdle [2m 1½f]

1: Djess     2: Ta An Athas Orm     3: Edas

Winner owned: Alurie O'Sullivan, trained: George Moore, ridden: Barry Keniry

With form at middle distances, an OK rating and signs of acting recently on soft ground, Edas had all the credentials for this except hurdling experience, but he threatened to go off odds-on at one point, before finally settling just the other side of evens. The fact that he got beaten makes the form immediately suspect, but there is no reason to write it off immediately. Djess had shown hints of ability in probably stronger company in Ireland, and rose to the occasion of her UK debut. Ta An Athas Orm had only completed once in five Irish points, but this trip was very much to his liking, and he was running on at the end, just not quite as well as Djess. The rest were well behind Edas at the line. Samizdat held on in front until the last hurdle, but weakened very quickly once coming to the end of his tether, losing fourth to stable mate Roman Army.

Dream Of Paradise (Derek Laverty) in front dreams of a gazebo free world, whilst Samizdat, The Event Master, Ta An Athas Orm and Edas sit ready to exploit drift off into the Elysian fields up front. Roman Army and Djess keep a wary eye on them

Betfair Novice Hurdle [2m 6f]

1: Browneyes Blue     2: Kings Euro     3: Ballyboley

Winner owned: Maurice W Chapman, trained: James Moffatt, ridden: Brian Hughes

This was all about stamina, and the first three were a distance and more clear of the field with still a lap to go. All on the same weight (although the winner is officially over a stone lower than the third, and could befor etoday expect a similar margin behind the runner-up), there were no excuses, Browneyes Blue just proved to be the best horse in the conditions. Kings Euro was first under pressure of the trio, but he outstayed Ballyboley for second, which was odd as Ballyboley has previously looked at his best over further. A common refrain in the UK-Jumping reports is that if an older horse appears to have suddenly improved, then the evidence may be misleading, and it probably has not. Well, Browneyes Blue is an exception because at the age of nine, he suddenly ran his best two races in May, and after 17 winless runs, has now picked up two in a row. Lack of ghastly red blinkers (see pic) possible helped his confidence here.

A lap to go and the placed horses are so far clear that a (rather apathetic) search party has been sent to look out for the stragglers. Ballyboley (Warren Marston) leads, Kings Euro (stripes) and Browneyes Blue lurk

Ones to Note

Only Words: Best run yet over more than the minimum, and just about hanging on to a fair rating

Little Task: Another tame effort in the second race, but is back to a workable handicap mark for when he is buzzing again, and he loves a left-handed, level track

The Stickler: Should be able to win a little race when he finds his trip

Daldini: Creeping forward slowly over fences

Barney: Two forgettable chase runs to date, but signs that all is not lost

Ta An Athas Orm: Appeared suited by the 2m 1½f trip in race 6, rather than the 3 mile points he has started out in

Ones to Avoid

Seattle Robber: Posts encouraging runs every now and then, but does not build on them and seems content to chase other horses without any threat to pass them (unless they are even more reluctant than he is)

Star Galaxy: Flattered by recent run of improved results?

Balleyboley: An ominous record of 10 runs, 1 win, 6 seconds, 2 thirds and a pulled up

UK-Jumping Selections

El Chaparral: It's not an easy course to predict the latter stages, but he appeared to have nabbed a decisive lead in the second race when pulling up after a mistake at the last