Just three

The battery of entries for Cartmel and Huntingdon mentioned yesterday has boiled down to just three actual overnight declarations in the end, all of them back at Cartmel. GLENVIEWS SURLAMI was not disgraced when fourth in a non-handicap Selling Hurdle at Market Rasen on her hurdling debut last time out, but that was on bottomless ground and without anything in as good early-season form as Ostfanni in the line-up. The 2m 6f of the Novice' Hurdle ought not be a problem, but that opponent and the likelier livelier ground might be.

The Selling Handicap Hurdle over 17.5f sees the likely return of FREE WILL, who showed a modicum of form for owners the Blaydon Racers Partnership at this level last summer. This, however, represents his first racecourse appearance for 13 months give or take a day or two, and although he was absolutely flying on the gallops when seen at Richard Guest's open day in July, he's entitled to need this. MERSEY MIRAGE is also engaged, and running this stamina-challenged animal at this ultra-sharp track is an eminently sensible ploy. His best performance over timber to date, you may remember, was when finishing third at Fakenham, possibly the only track in the country sharper than this one. He comes here in just moderate form from the Flat, however, and regular partner Larry McGrath is evidently still nursing injuries sustained in his fall from DIKTATIT yesterday. Kenny Johnson deputises, whilst Henry Oliver takes the rides on the other two horses.