NAP of the Day: Haslam ‘Thinkin of further Cartmel success

Bank Holiday Monday in Britain means a healthy chunk of racing action with five meetings across the afternoon supplemented by a lone evening card from Ireland.

Jumps cards come from Cartmel, Huntingdon and Ballinrobe (evening) while they race on the level at Windsor, Leicester and Redcar on a busy day. Monday's NAP is a Cartmel specialist returning for his first run of the season at the Cumbrian layout for a trainer with a stellar record at the course.

16:05 Cartmel Odds

Cartmel is one of the true staples of British summer jumps racing and trainer Ben Haslam has established a position as one of the leading trainers at the Cumbrian venue.

Haslam is based at Castle Hill Stables in the picturesque village of Middleham, North Yorkshire and his raids at Cartmel have yielded 19 winners from 91 runners across the last five seasons for a 21% strike-rate – showing a level stakes profit of +92.83.

This Bank Holiday weekend marks the start of a new season at Cartmel and Haslam was on the scoresheet on day one as Coqolino scored in the John Fogg Memorial Novices' Limited Handicap Chase under Richie McLernon.

The partnership will aim to provide more success for owner JP McManus in the Molson Coors Veterans' Handicap Chase on Monday afternoon with ILIKEDAWAYURTHINKIN.

The Yeats gelding was formerly trained in Ireland by Gavin Cromwell but joined Haslam in late summer 2023.

His form over hurdles for this yard was nothing to shout about but he came to this course last June for a first chase run on British soil and was doing so off a handy mark of 110.

He took well to Cartmel and notched back-to-back course wins over 3m1½f in successive months before finishing third behind the smart Tommie Beau in August. Heavy ground, allied to meeting that classy rival, might have been his undoing.

He showed it wasn't just the Cartmel factor by adding wins at Ayr (3m, good) and Newcastle (3m4f, good) in November and went close again at the Scottish venue in January on soft ground off a mark of 129.

He was last spotted in the Eider Chase at Newcastle in February where the marathon four-mile plus trip may have exhausted his stamina.

He has been given a break since and it's no shock he returns at this track. Ground conditions are ideal and last November's win up at Newcastle showcases the fact this trip is within range.

He is in veterans' company now and his Cartmel record makes him an appealing option coming back here.

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