We have two runners, on what is one of Newcastle's biggest jumping days of the year on Saturday, where the going is currently heavy, soft in places, which will hold no fears for either of our representatives.
Both of our runners will go head to head at 1.38,pm, in the 0-120 handicap chase, over two miles, where they will face just two other rivals.
Cornestone Lad who won the 2019 running of the prestigious 'Fighting Fifth Hurdle,' Grade 1, at this track, will now have his 50th career start, and 18th start over fences, at the age of 10. He made his racecourse debut as a two year old in October 2016, and has gone on to win 10 races, as well as finish second on 12 occasions, and third on nine occasions, winning £168,479 to date. In three starts this term since returning from his summer break, he has failed to get competitive, although all of those runs were in either Class 2 or Class 3 company, with the handicapper dropping him by a further 14lb to 116. He now drops in to Class 4 company over fences for the first time, with the champion jockey Brian Hughes back in the saddle.
At 11 years old Duo D'Enfer has found a new lease of life since arriving from France last spring. He is now the winner of two of his five starts for us, appearing to take another big step forward at Sedgefield last time, when powering home by seven and a half lengths in first time cheek pieces, for which the handicapper has taken no chances, by raising him 7lb to 117. He has been ridden by Emma Smith-Chaston on all five occasions, and she will once again take the ride.
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, Mrs B M Lofthouse, and Samuel Sutton.
Duo D'Enfer.
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