Pace & Draw

Cartmel over staying trips can be very tactical – the sharp turns reward those with handy positions, while closers often need luck. With Saint Bibiana, Pounding Poet, Minella Rescue and Caughtinyourtrance all preferring to race handily, we may get an even-to-strong pace. That should set up well for something sitting just off the leaders.

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Strongest Contenders

Saint Bibiana (Proven, Progressive) – 4 wins on the spin before finding only Pounding Poet too good at Uttoxeter. Already a C&D winner, still improving, and looks ideally suited to Cartmel’s sharp stamina test.

Pounding Poet (Proven, Class Dropper) – back to form last time when beating Saint Bibiana. Carries 5lb more but is still well-handicapped on older form. Unproven at Cartmel, but ability is not in doubt.

Caughtinyourtrance (Promising, Unexposed) – lightly raced and improving rapidly. Back-to-back wins at this track (maiden + novice) suggest he relishes Cartmel. His opening mark looks workable, and he may improve again.

Minella Rescue (Proven, Consistent) – solid Uttoxeter form ties him in closely with Saint Bibiana. No Cartmel experience but honest, reliable, and stays strongly.

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Main Dangers

Imperial Data – first-time wind-op after winning here over shorter. Needs to prove stamina fully at 3m+, but trainer excels with Cartmel runners.

Wbee – has form over C&D but comes here after two poor runs. Hard to trust, though best form would give him a squeak.

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Interesting Outsiders

Our Sam – multiple Cartmel wins in the past, but looks regressive and is 10lb wrong at the weights. More of a place chance at best.
Kiss My Face – 7lb wrong, inconsistent, and returns from another break. Hard to fancy.
The Jam Man – formerly talented but clearly on the downgrade.

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Runner Scores (suitability /10)

• Saint Bibiana – 9/10 (course form, progressive, reliable profile)
• Pounding Poet – 8.5/10 (well-handicapped on past form, Cartmel unknown)
• Caughtinyourtrance – 8.5/10 (unexposed, loves Cartmel, could leap forward again)
• Minella Rescue – 8/10 (solid, but more exposed, no Cartmel run)
• Imperial Data – 7/10 (course winner, stamina question, but yard angle)
• Wbee – 6/10 (C&D form in past, but recent decline)
• Our Sam – 5/10 (out of the handicap, former course form)
• Kiss My Face – 4/10 (wrong at the weights, inconsistent)
• The Jam Man – 3/10 (ability gone, relying on memory of past class)

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Private Tissue (fair odds)

• Saint Bibiana 3/1
• Pounding Poet 7/2
• Caughtinyourtrance 4/1
• Minella Rescue 5/1
• Imperial Data 7/1
• Wbee 14/1
• Our Sam 20/1
• Kiss My Face 25/1
• The Jam Man 40/1

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Summary

This looks a tight staying handicap with strong recent form lines from Uttoxeter and improving Cartmel specialists in opposition.

Saint Bibiana has the most convincing case: progressive mare, already a C&D scorer, and consistent. Pounding Poet is the obvious threat, but lack of Cartmel experience is a slight negative. Caughtinyourtrance is the wildcard – very much on the upgrade and could be ahead of his mark.

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Smart Play

Win Bet: Saint Bibiana – solid, progressive, and ideally suited to this setup.
Each-Way Saver: Caughtinyourtrance – unexposed improver with track form, value if 4/1+ holds.