We have two declared for the evening meeting on the all weather at Newcastle on Thursday, after a further six have taken their chance in the afternoon jumps meeting at Carlisle, where the going at the time of writing is good to soft, soft in places.
We field three of the 14 runners in the first at Carlisle, a 0-105 Conditional/Amateur jockeys hands and heels race, at 1.0.pm, over two miles and three furlongs. Trouble Shooter will be partnered by Charlie Boddy, who will be having his second ride under rules. Trouble Shooter came back to form at Catterick on his penultimate start in February, but took a backwards step at Newcastle when last seen 12 days ago, he would be in the mix on that Catterick run.
In the same event Brickadank will be partnered by Natasha Cookson who will be having her third ride under rules, and her first for us. Brickadank was a fairly consistent performer last season, appearing to just lack that extra gear to get his head in front, but his form has deteriated somewhat In his last three starts, the latest when finishing seventh at Sedgefield in mid January.
Our third runner in the race is Not What It Seems who will be ridden by our stable conditional jockey Jack Hogan for the first time. Not What It Seems who will carry top weight was a good second in a maiden hurdle at Catterick 34 days ago, and on that run, and a couple of other performances this season he looks handicapped about right from his mark of 105, so hopefully his bit of extra class at this level could see him through.
Trevelyn's Corn is next up at 2.10.pm, in a 0-120 novices handicap chase over the extended two miles and four furlongs, with Alain Cawley back in the saddle. Trevelyn's Corn was away from the racecourse for 26 months before making his stable debut for us at Newcastle last December. He has shown a little progress in each of his three starts for us, including over this course and distance 10 days ago, when finishing fifth.
Howzat Hiris made her handicap debut at Wetherby in December when weakening from four out over three miles. In her three novice races prior to that she never got competitive, and she can now race from a mark of 79, with Jack Hogan taking off 7lb. The race is over two miles and one furlong, a 0-105 novice handicap hurdle for mares.
We introduce Irene Goodnight in the bumper at 4.30.pm, over two miles and one furlong. She is a well bred five year old mare, whose four siblings include her half brother Santini, who was beaten by a neck in the 2020 Cheltenham Gold Cup by Al Boum Photo. Two of her other relations were officially rated 137 and 147, she will be partnered on debut by Conor O'Farrell.
We also send two up to Newcastle for their all weather flat meeting. To say we were surprised by Western Melody's racecourse debut at Southwell two weeks ago is an understatement. You don't often see unraced five year old mares on the flat make promising debuts, but Western Melody managed to finish fourth, and although the form of that race is nothing out of the ordinary, she would give us all a lot of fun if able to back that up. This event at 7.0.pm, which is another novice stakes event is probably a better race, as she steps down in trip from seven furlongs to six, with Aiden Brookes retaining the ride.
Our final runner of the day is Carnival Zain who goes to post for the 8.30.pm, a 0-70 handicap over seven furlongs with Billy Garritty who has ridden him on four previous occasions back in the saddle. Since arriving from France in the summer of last year Carnival Zain has struggled in six starts to make any real impression, which has seen his mark slip from 77 to 64. He has had a four month break which will have done him no harm, and he was an all weather winner in France as a two year old in 2019.
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, T M Clarke, A & S Associates, Ryder Sugden, D Lees, Sticky Wicket Racing, Mrs J A Darling, The Rat Pack Racing Club, and Newroc & Co.
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