We send three up to Perth on Thursday, where the ground is currently good to soft, good in places.
After racing in three bumpers, and three novice or maiden hurdles, Split The Bill will make his handicap debut at 2.0.pm, in the 0-115 handicap hurdle, over two and a half miles, with Jack Hogan in the saddle for the first time. Split The Bill who has shown a reasonable amount of ability in all his starts to date steps up in trip, with the handicapper looking like he hasn't taken any chances, giving Split The Bill an opening mark of 106.
Knocknamona is next up at 2.30.pm, in the 0-110 Conditional Jockeys Veterans handicap chase, over the extended two miles and seven furlongs, with Josh Thompson retaining the ride. Knocknamona hasn't run over this far since 2019, but he was a winner at Ayr back in 2018 over three miles, so I wouldn't have any worry about this extra distance. With Knocknamona it is always the ground, as he is a mudlark, so any further drying out of the ground would be of big concern.
Cornerstone Lad wont get many better opportunities to open his seasonal account, when he faces three rivals in the £25,000, 0-150 handicap chase at 3.30.pm, over two and a half miles, with his regular jockey Conor O'Farrell in the saddle. At nine years old Cornerstone Lad sadly doesn't possess the blistering speed he once had that saw him win the 2019 Grade 1 Fighting Fifth Hurdle, but he still retains enough class to be competitive from his current falling mark of 130. On both of his last two starts he has looked as if this step up in trip is now required, where he takes on two out of form, and one in form rival.
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, J N Swinbank, The Rat Pack Racing Club, and Mrs B M Lofthouse.
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