We send a battalion to Newcastle on Thursday afternoon, where the going is currently described as good to soft, soft in places.
Kids Say Lastgojoe gets the ball rolling at 11.55.am, in division 1 of the maiden hurdle, over the extended two miles, with Brian Hughes retaining the ride. Kids Say Lastgojoe made a promising bumper debut at Newcastle in October, and backed that up when winning 55 days ago at Catterick. He now makes his hurdles debut, and is clearly an above average prospect.
Isabel De Clare will have her second start over hurdles in division 2 of the maiden hurdle at 12.25.pm, where she will once again have the services of Josh Thompson in the saddle. Isabel De Clare ran with credit on both of her bumper starts, but showed much improved form when finishing a close up staying on fifth at Wetherby on Boxing Day. She now steps back down in trip on this her second start over jumps, but she is clearly progressing.
Worth The Walk had run in five Irish point to points, including winning and placing twice prior to joining the yard. She made her hurdles debut for us at Hexham just over five weeks ago, when running well until lack of a recent race took it's toll, and she weakened from two out. Her future will eventually be over fences, and this run will gain her further experience. Worth The Walk runs at 1.00.pm, in the maiden hurdle, over two miles and four furlongs, with Conor O'Farrell booked to ride.
Halpha Soleil had a productive time over hurdles, winning at Sedgefield and Hexham, and after over six months off the track he made his chase debut at Hexham 36 days ago, when jumping well until lack of a recent run took it's toll. He is still 3lb above his last winning mark, but there could be further improvement to come over the larger obstacles. Halpha Soleil goes to post for the 0-120 novices handicap chase, over two miles and four furlongs, at 1.35.pm, with his regular rider Emma Smith-Chaston in the saddle.
We will be doubly represented at 2.10.pm, in the 0-105 handicap hurdle, over the extended two miles. Magnolia is an ex French recruit, who was highly tried over hurdles and fences in France, and was a winner at Fontainebleau in November 2023 over hurdles. The handicapper took no chances giving her an opening British mark of 108, and after her first start for us in December, where she finished a respectable sixth, he has dropped her 5lb. Josh Thompson retains the ride.
Our other runner in the race is Kazar Forez, who makes his British and yard debut, with Emma Smith-Chaston taking the ride. Kazar Forez has only run on five occasions to date, all over hurdles, in France, where he has shown promise to finish runner up twice. It must be a nightmare for the handicapper having to 'guess' a mark, and Kazar Forez starts out from 103.
We have two runners in the 0-100 handicap hurdle at 2.45.pm, over two and a half miles. Penpal has a tremendous record when fresh, so it was disappointing that he pulled up at Newcastle 33 days ago after a seven months break, but the vet did report that the gelding bled from the nose. Penpal would probably benefit for any drying out of the ground, and will be partnered by Emma Smith-Chaston.
You Say Its Over is our other runner in the race. She remains a maiden, but has been a very consistent performer since joining us from Ireland in the summer of 2023, where she has finished runner up on four occasions. She has no problem with soft ground, and will once again be partnered by her regular rider Josh Thompson.
We also have two runners in the 0-100 handicap chase at 3.20.pm, over two and a half miles. After being a 36 raced maiden Brickadank suddenly found his best form when winning twice at Market Rasen in March of last year. He returned at that track in early December when pulling up, and will be a lot further forward this time with that run under his belt. Brickadank will have his regular rider Brian Hughes on board.
Great Raffles is our other runner in the race, where he will be partnered by Emma Smith-Chaston who has ridden him on seven previous occasions. Great Raffles was the winner of two three miles hurdles for us back in March and April of 2022, and is now 2lb below that last winning mark. To date he has raced on five occasions over fences and is still to get competitive, he will have no problem with the underfoot conditions.
Bay Empress will make her racecourse debut in the extended two miles bumper at 3.54.pm, where she will be partnered by Henry Brooke. Bay Empress has plenty of staying blood in her, being by the 2007 Queens Vase, and St Ledger runner up Mahler. Her Dam was the winner of three races over hurdles achieving a best BHA rating of 123.
To keep up to date with all the latest happenings at Oakwood Stables, Sharp Hill, and Curlew, click on 'NEWS' at www.mickyhammondracing.
Good luck to the connections, Joe Buzzeo, Keep The Faith Partnership, Phil Ellerby, T I S Partnership, The Magnolia Partnership, The Upside Down Butterfly Boys, The Golden Cuckoo, Resdev, A & S Associates, and Sharp Hill Thoroughbreds.
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