4:25 Cartmel
This Class 4 BTRC Handicap Steeple Chase at Cartmel over 2m1f61y on good to soft ground brings together a compact field of five smart performers, several of whom have shown strong ability around this unique track. The KTB Fit ratings point to a competitive contest headed by Passing Diamond on 71, with Kientzheim close behind on 68 and Palamon on 63, while the two outsiders are rated 60 and 45. Recent form is mixed across the group, but course records, trainer and jockey statistics at Cartmel, and the drop in class for the top two principals add significant layers to the puzzle.
How the race shapes up
With two confirmed front-runners in Passing Diamond and Tanking Along, the pace shape is strongly front-loaded and looks likely to be run at a strong gallop that could leave the leaders vulnerable late on. The three hold-up performers – Kientzheim, Palamon and Lermoos Legend – are therefore well positioned to pick up the pieces if the pace collapses as anticipated. The key question is whether the prominent runners can dictate matters and stay the trip, or if the race will fall into the lap of one of the patient hold-up types coming from off the pace.
The KTB Fit ranking
- 1Passing Diamond KTB Selection71/100Smart performer who has won four of his last six starts and showed his liking for this place when scoring on his only previous visit.
- 2Kientzheim68/100Smart performer who has shown strong ability at this track with a placed effort from two runs here.
- 3Palamon63/100Smart performer who has won at this trip and handles good to soft ground.
- 4Lermoos Legend60/100Lermoos Legend is a smart 11-year-old with a strong course record here, including two wins from 13 runs, and he has won three times from nine starts at today's…
- 5Tanking Along45/100Smart performer who arrives in solid form after two seconds this year.
The contenders
Passing Diamond KTB Fit 71/100
Passing Diamond arrives in excellent order with four wins from his last six starts, including a victory on his only previous visit to Cartmel. The six-year-old is dropping in class and his high-confidence front-running style makes him the likely leader in a race where the pace is expected to be strong. Both trainer Ben Haslam and jockey Richie McLernon boast impressive records at the track, with 20% and 19% strike rates respectively, and positive A/E figures that further strengthen the case. The only slight reservation is his modest effort on the sole start on good to soft ground, though that was only one run. Overall the combination of recent dominance, course success and strong Cartmel trainer-jockey statistics make him a major player.
Kientzheim KTB Fit 68/100
Kientzheim is another smart performer from the Ben Haslam yard and has shown strong ability at Cartmel with a placed effort from two runs here. The six-year-old has a solid record on good to soft ground with one win and two places from two starts, and he has been placed twice at today's trip. His recent form is somewhat patchy, however, highlighted by a pulled-up effort last time out. Haslam's 20% strike rate at the course is a positive, but jockey Harry Cobden is still seeking his first Cartmel winner from 14 rides. As a habitual hold-up performer he is ideally suited to the likely strong pace.
Palamon KTB Fit 63/100
Palamon is a smart performer who has won at this trip and handles good to soft ground, recording one win and one place from five starts on it. He drops back from 2m7f having finished fifth on his last two starts, which brings him into the equation in this smaller field. The Dan Skelton and Harry Skelton combination carries plenty of weight, with both enjoying solid records at Cartmel – the trainer at 20% and the jockey at 30%. A high-confidence hold-up runner, he should be well suited if the front-runners go hard early and the race sets up for those coming from off the pace.
The rest of the field
Lermoos LegendKTB Fit 60/100
Lermoos Legend is a smart 11-year-old with a strong course record at Cartmel, including two wins from 13 runs, and he has won three times from nine starts at today's trip. He drops back from 2m5f having shown fair form when third on his latest start, and his record on good to soft is solid with four wins and seven places from 11 runs. The Bowen father-and-son combination both have above-average strike rates at Cartmel.
Tanking AlongKTB Fit 45/100
Tanking Along arrives in solid form after two seconds this year and drops back to a trip he has won at before. He has been competitive rather than a winner on good to soft ground from four starts. The trainer has only a small sample at Cartmel while Brian Hughes holds a 15% strike rate here from 556 rides. A front-runner, he is likely to be prominent early in a race with a strong pace anticipated.
KTB verdict
Passing Diamond stands out as the KTB Selection. He has won four of his last six starts, showed his liking for Cartmel when successful on his only previous visit, and benefits from a drop in class plus strong trainer and jockey statistics at the track. His front-running style should ensure he is positive in a race likely to be run at a strong gallop. The main dangers are Kientzheim, who has shown strong ability here and likes the ground, and Palamon, who drops in trip with the Skelton team in good form at Cartmel. Lermoos Legend cannot be entirely dismissed given his course record, while Tanking Along may go well early but faces a stiff task stepping up in class.
KTB Selection Passing Diamond
Morning odds
Best available price per runner, captured 00:00 UTC, 29 Aug. These are a morning snapshot and will have moved — see the live racecard for current prices.
| Runner | Morning price | Bookmaker |
|---|---|---|
| Passing Diamond | 11/10 | William Hill |
| Kientzheim | 7/1 | 7Bet |
| Palamon | 8/1 | 7Bet |
| Lermoos Legend | 5/1 | 7Bet |
| Tanking Along | 3/1 | 7Bet |
This is the narrative read of the 4:25 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 recent winning record?
Passing Diamond has won four of his last six starts.
How many previous visits has Passing Diamond made to Cartmel?
One previous visit, on which he won.
Which runners are suited by the expected strong pace?
The hold-up horses Kientzheim, Palamon and Lermoos Legend are suited if the pace collapses late.
What is Harry Cobden's Cartmel record?
0% strike rate from 14 rides with an A/E of 0.
Which horse is stepping up in class?
Tanking Along is stepping up in class.
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