Pace / Draw Angles:
Cartmel is one of the most pace-favouring tracks in Britain – prominent racers and those with course form often have an edge, especially over intermediate trips like 2m6f. With Evenwood Sonofagun, City Derby, and Secret Secret all having made the running here before, there should be an honest to strong pace. Hold-up horses can win, but they need luck given Cartmel’s tight finish.

---

Strongest Contenders

• Star Legend (Proven / Progressive) – Consistent this summer, mixing codes, placed form solid at Worcester over 2m7f. 3lb higher but looks unexposed at this trip. Big player with a handy 3lb claim.
• Secret Secret (Proven C&D Specialist) – Won this race last month by 9l (soft). Up 8lb but thrives at Cartmel (3 career wins here). Ground quicker now which is a slight question, but he’s a danger.
• Evenwood Sonofagun (Promising / Local Angle) – Two course wins earlier this season including C&D. Excused last run in higher grade, well treated if bouncing back.

---

Main Dangers

• Do No Wrong (Interesting Switcher) – Better over fences recently, drops back to hurdles off 108 (10lb lower than chase mark). Has won over 3m hurdles before. Yard quiet but he’s well handicapped.
• Whizz Kid (Risky Stayer) – 117-rated chaser, not proven beyond 2m4f. On class, he’s high up, but stamina on this sharp 2m6f is a big question.

---

Interesting Outsiders

• City Derby – Multiple Cartmel wins last summer, including this C&D. Not firing yet this year but hinted at better latest; not ignored.
• Vocal Duke – Out of the handicap, but shaped well over shorter here on Saturday. Stamina helps, but faces a big weight task.
• Our Laura B – Absent for over a year but consistent here previously; market check vital.

---

Runner Scores (Suitability Rating /10)

• Star Legend – 8.5/10 (progressive, trip fine, consistent)
• Secret Secret – 8/10 (C&D winner, slight ground query off higher mark)
• Evenwood Sonofagun – 7.5/10 (local form, forgive last run)
• Do No Wrong – 7/10 (well handicapped, hurdling return key)
• Whizz Kid – 6.5/10 (classy, stamina risk)
• City Derby – 6/10 (well treated, needs revival)
• Vocal Duke – 5.5/10 (tries, but out of weights)
• Our Laura B – 5/10 (layoff to overcome)
• Harper Valley – 4/10 (out of form)
• Sky Luna – 3.5/10 (wrong at weights, limited)

---

Private Tissue (My Odds)

• Star Legend 5/2
• Secret Secret 3/1
• Evenwood Sonofagun 5/1
• Do No Wrong 11/2
• Whizz Kid 7/1
• City Derby 10/1
• Vocal Duke 12/1
• Our Laura B 16/1
• Harper Valley 25/1
• Sky Luna 33/1

---

Summary & Smart Play

This looks a proper Cartmel handicap hurdle where local course form is key. Secret Secret and Evenwood Sonofagun both love it here, but the progressive Star Legend looks well placed under a useful claim, with recent strong form at Worcester suggesting he’ll see this out strongly. Do No Wrong is the joker in the pack, dangerous back over hurdles off a reduced mark.

Smart Play:

• Win Bet – Star Legend (consistent, progressive profile, trip looks spot-on)
• Each-Way Saver – Do No Wrong (well in back hurdling, Brian Hughes booked – big pointer)

Market moves will be key, especially for Our Laura B on return and City Derby if money comes for a revival.