CARTMEL'S Wednesday meeting is more about Cumberland sausage than tapas but ALFONSO can bring a Spanish feel to the meeting when fancied to take the 2.55pm race.

This looks a two-horse race with Alfonso and Last Pioneer both easy winners last time out and set to go up 10lb in the official handicap ratings from next week.

There is little to seperate the two for what they achieved last time out but Alfonso is well-related, being a half-brother to Lincoln winner Pablo and his dam is out of a half-sister to the great Apache. The Efisio gelding should continue to improve and can score here in Tom Dreaper's capable hands.

In the opening 2.20 race Artic Lord from Evan Williams stable could go well despite a long lay-off, but CANADIAN SUNSET clocked a decent time when second to Buffy at Perth and is relied upon to show that was no flash in the pan.

Just to watch Timmy Murphy ride is an education and it is significant that he has been given the job of partnering COMMERCIAL EXPRESS in the 3.30. Though this chaser's halo has well and truly slipped since being rated a one-time Cheltenham Festival contender with David Pipe's stable, he should find Murphy's tender handling just what he needs here. He will need plenty of help to foil Westfield Dancer as he attempts to overcome a 7lb penalty for an impressive win at this meeting on Saturday.

MERRY PATH is a tenative selection for the hunter chase at 4.05, but SYBELLIUS D'ARTAIX - not one to write out on a betting slip - should justify warm favouritism for the penultimate race.

He is rated best of these on official ratings, by a considerable distance, but there have been some surprises and burnt fingers at this fixture - the hot sausages!.

COLLEGE CITY would have gone close to winning a handicap chase rated 103 and now tries to exploit a hurdle mark of 15lb less in the fina lrace on the card. He's just preferred to Welsh Dream (might need the run) as the two are closely weighted on last year's form.