Cartmel, Sunday 20 July 2026: Tips & Selections

Cartmel, Sunday 20 July 2026: Tips & Selections

A six-race card at one of jump racing’s most unique tracks. Cartmel is a tight, undulating circuit where local knowledge counts and horses that handle the quirky layout have a massive edge. Good ground today suits most of the field across the card, and with the Skelton yard firing at 6/25 over the past fortnight, anything wearing their colours deserves close attention. Glorious Goodwood is just over a week away on the flat scene, but today it’s all about the hills of Cumbria.

1:42 — Cumbria Grand Maiden Hurdle (2m1f)

Two horses dominate the market here and both have strong claims, but the framing tells the story. Speed For Fun, trained by Willie Mullins and ridden by Patrick Mullins, is 5/6 favourite having fallen on debut. The Mullins name is enough to shorten any horse to near-odds-on, and a single run with a fall on it is very little to go on. That price reflects reputation, not proven ability over hurdles.

The value sits with Gambino at evens with Boyle Sports, Betfred and LiveScore Bet. Dan Skelton’s yard is running at 6/25 over the past 14 days and Harry Skelton brings a 30% course strike rate at Cartmel (6 wins from 20). The combination of a red-hot jockey at this specific track and a trainer in form makes Gambino the most solid proposition on the card at a fair price. A third on debut is exactly the kind of run that sets up a bold step forward.

If you want a each-way flutter at bigger odds, Kind Of Kiss at 6/1 (Betfred, LiveScore Bet) is interesting. Jonathan England rides for father Sam England, and Sam England’s Cartmel trainer stats are excellent, 19% wins with an A/E of 1.12. Jonathan England clocks 21% at this course with an A/E of 1.24. That combination at 6/1 in a maiden with a clear market leader is worth a small each-way interest given the three places on offer.

• Selection: Gambino (Evens)
• Each-way interest: Kind Of Kiss Each-Way at 6/1

3:42 — RF Miller & Co Handicap Chase (3m1½f)

With two non-runners, this is effectively a three-horse race, and the comment data makes the picture pretty clear. Stratagem at 2/1 (Betfred) is the one to be on.

Trained by Mickey Bowen, this ten-year-old shows the strongest recent form in the field. He won two starts back, was placed three starts back, and his last run was a third. He has form over this trip and handles good ground. A mark of 112 makes him the highest-rated runner in the field. Fit after 24 days off, this looks like the right race at the right time.

Le Malin is interesting on ratings at 11/2 (Betfred), but 571 days off the track is a massive ask, even with course and distance experience. Slaney Opera fell last time and remains winless in his last five starts. Stratagem is the clear selection.

• Selection: Stratagem (2/1, Betfred)

4:12 — Weatherbys Design & Print Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (2m1½f)

Dunkerque commands attention at 7/4 (Betfred, LiveScore Bet). The form line of 91-111 is as straightforward as it gets in a novices’ chase, three wins from his last three completed starts. Jennie Candlish has an 18% course strike rate at Cartmel with an A/E of 1.19, showing her runners perform to or above expectations at this track. Sean Quinlan takes the ride, and while he doesn’t appear in the headline jockey stats for Cartmel, Dunkerque’s form does the talking here.

The main threat is Krak at 9/4, ridden by Harry Skelton for Dan Skelton, and that combination is hard to dismiss on course stats alone. But the form of 70P-24 is a long way behind Dunkerque’s relentless winning sequence. At 9 lbs lighter, Krak has a weight advantage, but form is form.

Passing Diamond at 4/1 is worth noting for each-way purposes. Ben Haslam has strong Cartmel stats, and Richie McLernon’s A/E of 1.33 at this track is the best of any jockey in the data. The form of 33-113 shows consistent improvement. In a five-runner field though, with only two places paid, the each-way case is limited and Dunkerque remains the clear selection.

• Selection: Dunkerque (7/4, Betfred)

Today’s NAP

Dunkerque — Weatherbys Design & Print Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (4:12, Cartmel)
Odds: 7/4 — Betfred (others: 7/4 LiveScore Bet)

Three wins from his last three completed starts tells you everything you need to know. Dunkerque is in career-best form, handles good ground, and Jennie Candlish has a solid Cartmel record with an A/E above 1.0 showing her horses run to type here. The opposition includes Harry Skelton on Krak, which keeps this honest, but a horse winning three on the spin in a novices’ chase should not be opposed at 7/4 when the form is this consistent.