Cartmel Tips: Data adds up for Cumbrian success

Lots of midweek racing on the agenda across Britain and Ireland, with seven scheduled meetings on Wednesday. They include the evening jumps card at Cartmel, with racing at the Cumbria layout from 17:50-20:50 on ground forecast to be 'Good-Good to Soft in places'.

We've picked out a trio of runners to follow on the Cartmel card, including Imperial Data for trainer Rebecca Menzies after a pleasing recent comeback run.

17:50 Cartmel – Haarar @ 11/8

The opening Bay Search & Rescue Novices' Hurdle is set to be run over 2m1f and it should present a fine chance for this month's Southwell scorer HAARAR to follow up for Sam and Jonathan England, a pairing that boasts a really solid record at this Lake District venue.

A son of Muhaarar, this gelding attained a peak rating of 77 on the Flat, winning twice at Windsor and Chelmsford in 2022 for Michael Bell.

He joined this handler at the end of last year and has improved run-by-run in three hurdle starts since the spring, while also going close at Thirsk this month on the Flat.

He was second-best at Uttoxeter (2m, soft) previous to that in a maiden hurdle and went one better at Southwell (2m, good) 15 days ago.

His jumping still left some room for work, and this is a good jumping course for one in that position, while his Flat-speed should prove a real asset on the long run to the line in this contest.

At a track where Sam England boasts a 25 per-cent strike-rate across the last five seasons, he looks well placed for another Cartmel winner.

18:50 Cartmel – Imperial Data @ 4/1

The first division of the Hales Of Cartmel Handicap Hurdle can go the way of IMPERIAL DATA for Rebecca Menzies.

The Irish point-to-point winner finished second in his first three starts over timber last summer for this trainer at trips from 2m4f-3m½f before winning three on the spin at Kelso (2m5f, good) and Sedgefield (2m4f, good/soft) in the autumn after having undergone a wind op.

This month's return to action saw him finish fifth at Hexham (2m4f, good), seemingly when in need of the outing, and it should leave him spot on for this test.

The handicapper has eased him 1lb in the ratings and this 2m6f could be optimal for a horse that stays further. He looks the solid option in this field.

19:50 Cartmel – Sword Of Fate @ 4/1

Course form counts for plenty at Cartmel and SWORD OF FATE has finished in the first three in eight of his 12 starts over fences at this layout, including two wins over C&D.

He's into the veteran stages now as an 11-year-old but showed he retains plenty of zest for the game in finishing second at Perth (2m4f, good to soft) behind the lightly-raced chasing debutant Imperial Rule earlier this month from this mark.

He's nicely treated and a return to this Cumbria venue looks promising off the back of that latest run, with Grand National-winning pilot Derek Fox taking ove

Horse Racing Odds, from Betfred Insights.