We send six runners to Wetherby on Saturday, where the going is currently described as soft, heavy in places.
Dark Duomo is first up at 1.40.pm, in the o-110 novices handicap hurdle, over three miles, with Emma Smilth-Chaston taking the ride. Dark Duomo has raced over fences the last twice, where he has finished fourth on both occasions, and he now reverts to hurdles, from 1lb lower mark, than when he was runner up for his previous yard, back in March of last year.
Cornerstone Lad who won the Grade 1 'Fighting Fifth' hurdle back in 2019, continues his career over fences, where he will face four rivals in the 0-150 handicap chase at 2.15.pm, over one mile and seven furlongs, with the champion jockey Brian Hughes in the saddle. Cornerstone Lad may not have the pace he was once blessed with, but he does retain the fire in his belly, and from a much reduced mark of 125, and on the ground he loves, he should run his usual game race.
We are doubly represented at 2.50.pm, in the 0-140 handicap hurdle, over the extended two miles and three furlongs. Foster'sisland who is the winner of six of his 28 starts, more often than not runs right up to his best, so it was a little surprising when he put in a below par effort at this track on Boxing Day. He is now back on the same mark as when he was last in the winners enclosure at Bangor in March of last year, where he was ridden by Emma Smith-Chaston, who is now back in the saddle.
Singapore Trip is our other representative in the race, and will be ridden by Brian Hughes, who was also on board when the pair finished runner up at Newcastle three weeks ago. Singapore Trip has been raised 3lb for that effort, and he will also have to race from a further 3lb out of the weights in this Grade higher race, but he is in form, with possibly more to come.
Shighness is a big strong tough mare, so it is somewhat of a surprise that in two runs over fences to date, that she has failed to be more competitive, but it is still very early days, and once her jumping brushes up, and it will, we should see the Shighness that has already won three hurdle races, and a bumper, from just 15 starts. She will be partnered by the champion jockey Brian Hughes, in the 0-120 handicap chase, over three miles, at 3.25.pm.
Isabel De Clare will carry the same colours as Shighness, when she makes her racecourse debut in the mares only bumper over two miles at 3.57.pm, with Brian Hughes taking the ride. Isabel De Clare is by the Group 2 winning miler Passing Glance, out of a jumps bred mare, who has already produced two winners, who have achieved RPR of 124, and 117.
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, :Mr&Mrs Lees, D Pollitt, Driving Down Ltd, Mrs B M Lofthouse, The Oakwood Nobels, Andrew Phillips, and Keep The Faith Partnership.
Shighness.
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