We make a rare trip to Lingfield on Tuesday, where the going on the chase course is currently described as good, good to soft in places. We also send two up to Ayr, where the ground is good to soft all over at the time of writing, while the Tapeta surface at Newcastle is riding standard to slow.
We send the progressive Not What It Seems down to Lingfield where he will face three rivals at 3.00.pm, in a 0-130 novices handicap chase over the extended two miles and seven furlongs, with Emma Smith-Chaston retaining the ride. Not What It Seems made a very pleasing chase debut at Wetherby seven weeks ago when staying on in to third, and recording a personal best in the process. He now steps up in trip, which looks a positive move.
Up at Ayr, Mister Bells has his fourth start for us since arriving from Ireland, when he goes to post for the 4.30.pm, a 0-105 handicap chase over the three miles, with the champion jockey Brian Hughes on board for the first time. Mister Bells has dropped 6lb for those three previous starts, where he has been staying on on each occasion, so this step up in trip will be a positive move.
At 5.05.pm, Touch Of A Dragon will make her racecourse debut in the two miles mares only bumper, with our stable conditional jockey Josh Thompson taking the ride. Touch Of A Dragon is the fourth offspring of Touch Of Ivory who was a moderate but tough mare who was the winner of five of her 41 starts, and all of her other three runners have been winners. Touch Of A Dragon's sire is Dragons Dancer, who was the runner up in the 2006 Epsom Derby to Sir Percy.
Burnage Boy who remains a maiden after 44 starts under both codes, has his 18th flat start at 4.55.pm, in a 0-50 Classified Stakes, over the extended 12 furlongs, where Aiden Brookes retains the ride. Even by Classified standards this is a particularly weak event, but if Burnage Boy is to finally get his head in front he will have to go through that extra gear he does possess, but seems very reluctant to use.
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, Ryder And Alex Sugden, Mr and Mrs Paul Chapman, The Oakwood Nobels, and JFW Properties Ltd.
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