Answers On A Cartmel Postcard ...

It is just over a week until Cartmel’s Bank Holiday racing festival and there are several questions that need answering: 

Can Lucy Alexander become the first lady rider to take Cartmel’s top jockey title? The prize for the seasonal Jockeys’ Challenge is a luxury stay for two at the Swan Hotel & Spa at Newby Bridge – much coveted by the wives of several top jockeys, so the competition is sure to be stiff.  As they enter the final two days of our racing season, Britain’s top lady rider has a two point lead over her nearest male rival.

Who will win the best dressed dog competition? Dogs are welcome at Cartmel as long as they are kept on a lead. On Bank Holiday Monday there’ll be £150 worth of prizes for the most stylishly-dressed dogs, courtesy of Pets At Home in Kendal. If you have a fashion-conscious dog, bring it to the Parade Ring at 1.00pm.

Will Soul Magic make history by winning his seventh race at Cartmel? In 29 starts, the Harriet Graham trained gelding has not managed to win at another track, but loves Cartmel – don’t we all! The ‘Win A Mini’ Handicap Chase on Bank Holiday Monday looks like the ideal opportunity for him. 

How do you scoop the pool? Saturday 24^th August is Totepool.com Cartmel Cup Day and the Tote have paid some huge dividends to Cartmel racegoers this season, including a pay out of more than £11,000 on the ‘place-pot’. The minimum stake for a place-pot bet is just £2 and the objective is to find a placed horse in each of the first six races. 

Will you be with us to enjoy the sunshine? The met-office forecast looks promising, with drier and brighter weather expected to spread north for the Bank Holiday weekend. It’d be a shame so miss out on one of those classic Cartmel weekends. 

And finally… Can I tip two winners in successive weeks? Following last weekend’s success with Algar Lad, I’m looking forward to some jumping action at Perth on Saturday where Life And Soul, a recent winner at Cartmel, could follow up in the Summer Champion Hurdle.