3:15 Cartmel
This Class 5 handicap hurdle at Cartmel over 3m1f83y on good to soft ground features a field of 14 where the KTB Fit scores are tightly bunched at the top end, with five principals rated between 52 and 57. The race asks several stamina questions as a number of runners step up markedly in trip, while the strong pace anticipated should play to those who come from off the pace. Overall the KTB numbers point to a competitive heat in which course form and proven stamina will be at a premium.
How the race shapes up
With two or more habitual front-runners present the pace is likely to be strong, as indicated by the high-confidence pace shape assessment. Most of the principals, including the selection, are habitual hold-up performers who will look to produce their efforts late. This sets up a race that could collapse late on the extended trip, posing the key question of which hold-up horses can sustain their run once the leaders come back to them.
The KTB Fit ranking
- 1Secret Secret KTB Selection57/100Useful performer who has won three times at Cartmel from 12 starts and holds solid placed form over today's trip.
- 2Larkfield Lusive56/100Useful performer who ran well to finish third here last month over shorter.
- 3Robert d'Ores53/100Robert d'Ores is a fair performer who has shown consistent but limited ability in recent starts, finishing midfield on his only previous visit to Cartmel.
- 4Kingofthegame53/100Kingofthegame is a fair performer who has won two of his four starts at Cartmel and two of his three at this trip.
- 5Stiletto52/100Useful performer who arrives in decent nick after a win and a third in recent starts.
- 6Getaway Master52/100Useful performer who arrives in reasonable form after a solid fourth last time out.
- 7Star Vantage52/100Star Vantage is a fair performer with a solid record around Cartmel, where he has been placed on two of his three starts.
- 8Dusky Days50/100Dusky Days is a useful performer who has won once in nine runs at Cartmel and arrives with strong course connections.
- 9Killybegs Jet Lady50/100Useful mare who has shown enough to be competitive at this level.
- 10Seeyainthesuninn50/100Seeyainthesuninn is a fair performer who has already won once from two runs at Cartmel.
- 11Frisky Whiskey50/100Frisky Whiskey has shown steady progress in four runs this year and looks useful on the balance of his ratings and form figures.
- 12Masterminding47/100Masterminding is a fair performer who has shown consistent placed form on this track, finishing second three times from three runs here.
- 13Fortunes Dawn42/100Fortunes Dawn is a fair performer on the balance of his ratings and recent efforts.
- 14Another Pearl41/100Fair performer who has shown little spark in five starts this year and finished a remote fifth on his only previous run here.
The contenders
Secret Secret KTB Fit 57/100
Secret Secret is a useful performer who has won three times at Cartmel from 12 starts and holds solid placed form over today's trip. He has two wins from seven runs on good to soft ground and the yard and jockey both have respectable strike rates here. Recent form is mixed and he now steps up markedly in distance which asks a fresh question. Usually held up, he produces his effort late and should be suited by the strong pace that is forecast. The trainer's 12% strike rate at Cartmel from 729 runs and the jockey's 15% from 556 rides add to his claims, while his course record of three wins from 12 starts underlines his effectiveness at this venue.
Larkfield Lusive KTB Fit 56/100
Larkfield Lusive is a useful performer who ran well to finish third here last month over shorter. He steps up markedly in trip today which asks a fresh question while the single run at Cartmel resulted in a modest seventh. Trainer and jockey both hold solid records at the track, with the yard showing a 20% strike rate from 25 runs and the jockey 15% from 115 rides. Usually held up, he produces his effort late and should be helped by the strong pace likely to unfold. He has been placed once from two runs on good to soft without winning, suggesting he remains competitive under these conditions.
Robert d'Ores KTB Fit 53/100
Robert d'Ores is a fair performer who has shown consistent but limited ability in recent starts, finishing midfield on his only previous visit to Cartmel. He acts on good to soft ground with two wins and four places from eight runs, though he steps up in trip today having failed to trouble the judge in three previous attempts at this distance. The yard holds a solid 12% strike rate here from 103 runs while the jockey is 10% from 79 rides. Usually held up with high confidence, he produces his effort late and will hope the strong pace collapses in his favour as the race unfolds over this extended trip.
Kingofthegame KTB Fit 53/100
Kingofthegame is a fair performer who has won two of his four starts at Cartmel and two of his three at this trip. He arrives in solid form after two wins and a third from his last three completed starts, though he has only placed once in two runs on good to soft. The trainer holds a 12% strike rate here from 229 runs while the jockey matches that figure from 113 rides. Usually held up, he produces his effort late and should be suited by the strong pace that is expected. His record at this venue and trip makes him a clear danger if he handles the ground.
Stiletto KTB Fit 52/100
Stiletto is a useful performer who arrives in decent nick after a win and a third in recent starts. She steps up in trip today for the first time which asks a fresh question while the jockey has only three rides at Cartmel which is too small a sample to judge. Trainer holds a 10 percent strike rate from 82 runs here. Usually held up with high confidence, she produces her effort late and will be looking for the race to fall apart late on. She has one win from five runs on good to soft with two placed efforts, suggesting she can be competitive if the longer trip suits.
The rest of the field
Getaway MasterKTB Fit 52/100
Getaway Master is a useful performer who arrives in reasonable form after a solid fourth last time out. Trainer has a modest 11% strike rate here from a large sample while the 5 lb claimer has done well with a 15% strike rate from his 20 rides. First time at Cartmel and stepping up markedly in trip today both count as unknowns rather than negatives.
Star VantageKTB Fit 52/100
Star Vantage is a fair performer with a solid record around Cartmel, where he has been placed on two of his three starts. He arrives in decent nick after two runner-up finishes this year and has shown he can be competitive on good to soft ground. The step up to 3m1f is an unknown and the trainer's modest strike rate here tempers expectations.
Dusky DaysKTB Fit 50/100
Dusky Days is a useful performer who has won once in nine runs at Cartmel and arrives with strong course connections. He steps up in trip today having been placed without winning at this distance before, while his record on good to soft shows two placed efforts from six starts but no success. First-time headgear is now applied to a horse whose recent form has been modest.
Killybegs Jet LadyKTB Fit 50/100
Killybegs Jet Lady is a useful mare who has shown enough to be competitive at this level. She has placed over course and distance on good to soft ground and her overall ratings back up that level of ability. Trainer is currently without a winner from five runs at Cartmel while the jockey holds a modest 9% strike rate here from 110 rides.
SeeyainthesuninnKTB Fit 50/100
Seeyainthesuninn is a fair performer who has already won once from two runs at Cartmel. He showed improved form when landing a 2m6f handicap here in May before backing that up with a solid fourth at Worcester last time. The step up to 3m1f is an unknown and his two runs on good to soft have produced no win or place.
Frisky WhiskeyKTB Fit 50/100
Frisky Whiskey has shown steady progress in four runs this year and looks useful on the balance of his ratings and form figures. He finished a respectable third here over shorter last time and the yard has a solid 14% strike rate at Cartmel from 111 runs. The step up to 3m1f is an unknown and the jockey’s 7% record from 73 rides at the track is modest.
MastermindingKTB Fit 47/100
Masterminding is a fair performer who has shown consistent placed form on this track, finishing second three times from three runs here. He steps up in trip today having never tried beyond 2m6f, which asks a fresh question of him. The trainer has a solid 12% strike rate at Cartmel from a large sample while the jockey is operating at 8% from 48 rides.
Fortunes DawnKTB Fit 42/100
Fortunes Dawn is a fair performer on the balance of his ratings and recent efforts. He has shown little at this track so far and both trainer and jockey have modest records here. Stepping up in trip is an unknown that could suit or hinder him.
Another PearlKTB Fit 41/100
Another Pearl is a fair performer who has shown little spark in five starts this year and finished a remote fifth on his only previous run here. He steps up markedly in trip for the first time today while wearing headgear for the first time. Trainer and jockey both hold solid records at Cartmel.
KTB verdict
Secret Secret looks to hold the best blend of course form, placed efforts over the trip and a run style that matches the anticipated strong pace. His three wins from 12 starts at Cartmel and two wins from seven on good to soft provide a strong foundation, even with the marked step up in distance posing a question. The main dangers are likely to come from Kingofthegame, who has won two of four at the track and two of three at this trip, and Larkfield Lusive who showed good form here over shorter last month. Robert d'Ores and Stiletto add further depth to what looks a typically competitive Cartmel handicap.
KTB Selection Secret Secret
Morning odds
Best available price per runner, captured 00:12 UTC, 29 Aug. These are a morning snapshot and will have moved — see the live racecard for current prices.
| Runner | Morning price | Bookmaker |
|---|---|---|
| Secret Secret | 6/1 | Bet365 |
| Larkfield Lusive | 18/1 | Bet365 |
| Robert d'Ores | 18/1 | Bet365 |
| Kingofthegame | 5/1 | 7Bet |
| Stiletto | 17/2 | 7Bet |
| Getaway Master | 14/1 | Bet365 |
| Star Vantage | 10/1 | 7Bet |
| Dusky Days | 18/1 | Bet365 |
| Killybegs Jet Lady | 14/1 | William Hill |
| Seeyainthesuninn | 15/2 | Bet365 |
| Frisky Whiskey | 6/1 | 7Bet |
| Masterminding | 11/2 | Bet365 |
| Fortunes Dawn | 25/1 | Bet365 |
| Another Pearl | 15/2 | 7Bet |
This is the narrative read of the 3:15 Cartmel. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the Cartmel racecard. Every result we hold for the track is on the Cartmel results & records page. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.
Questions about this race
Which horse has the strongest Cartmel course record among the principals?
Secret Secret has won three times from 12 starts at Cartmel.
How many of the principals are stepping up markedly in trip?
Secret Secret, Larkfield Lusive, Robert d'Ores, Stiletto, Getaway Master and Another Pearl are all stepping up markedly in trip.
Which runners are likely to set the strong pace?
Dusky Days and Killybegs Jet Lady are both front-runners who tend to make the running or race on the pace.
Which horse is dropping in class?
Robert d'Ores and Frisky Whiskey are both dropping in class.
Who is applying first-time headgear in this race?
Dusky Days and Another Pearl are both wearing first-time headgear.
18+. Analysis and entertainment only — no guarantee of profit. KTB race previews are published for interest and are not betting advice. Only ever stake what you can comfortably afford to lose, and set your own limits. Free, confidential help: the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 (GamCare.org.uk); in Ireland, the GamblingCare.ie helpline on 1800 936 725. Self-exclude at any time via GAMSTOP.
More from Kickthebookies