We have five runners at Wetherby on Thursday, where the going is currently described as good to soft, good in places, and one runner at Sedgefield, where the going is also currently good to soft, good in places.
We will be doubly represented in the first at Wetherby at 11.52.am, in the extended two miles and three furlongs mares only hurdle. Isabel De Clare makes her hurdles debut after showing promise in both of her two bumper starts to date, on the all weather at Newcastle when finishing fifth back in January, and latterly at Wetherby when finishing sixth 29 days ago. Isabel De Clare who has two winning half sisters in her pedigree, will be partnered by our stable conditional jockey Josh Thompson.
We are also represented in the race by the five year old mare Jolie Maresca, who will also be seeing the racecourse for only the third time. She was runner up in a point to point back in March, and then made her stable and hurdles debut at Carlisle 25 days ago when weakening from three out, that race will have been needed, and she will have come on for it. Jolie Maresca will be partnered by Emma Smith-Chaston for the first time.
Foster'sisland will be having his 34th start under rules, and his 12th at Wetherby, when he goes to post for 0-130 handicap hurdle, at 2.45.pm, over two miles and five furlongs, with Emma Smith-Chaston, who has ridden him on 23 occasions to date retaining the ride. Foster'sisland was second in this corresponding race back in 2022, and was also second at this track back in November on seasonal debut. He probably ran close to his best in a better race than this at Cheltenham when last seen almost six weeks ago, and will hopefully give his connections a very happy Christmas.
We are also doubly represented at 3.20.pm, in the 0-100 handicap hurdle, over two miles. Milajess ran her best race for us at Uttoxeter in June when finishing runner up, after a three months break, she returned at Sedgefield when finishing down the field, in a race where she will have needed the run. On her latest start back at Sedgefield in November she was fourth, in what was probably an above average race for the grade. She is 1lb lower with Josh Thompson retaining the ride.
Our other runner in the race is the four year old filly Lillistar, whose best run came for her previous yard, when finishing second on the flat in June 2023. In six starts for us (three on the flat & three over jumps) she has yet to match that form, and has been given an opening BHA mark of 86 for this her handicap hurdles debut, where she will be partnered Emma Smith-Chaston, who was also on board for those three previous hurdles runs.
We have one runner at Sedgefield, when Chica Princesa who is a four year old filly makes her racecourse debut in the bumper at 3.10.pm, over two miles and one furlong with Craig Nicol taking the ride. Chica Princesa who is by the 2017 Epsom Derby winner Wind Of Eagles, is the fifth offspring of her unraced dam to see the racecourse. She is a half sister to the Willie Mullins trained Northern Belle who only raced twice, but was a winner in a bumper on racecourse debut back in 2018.
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, Keep The Faith Partnership, The Cheltenham Trail, The Oakwood Nobels, The Monday Club, John Sidebottom & Mrs Kate Sidebottom, and Distillery Stud.
The ultra consistent, and equally tough Foster'sisland.
Comments