The new flat turf season is now up and running for us, as we have our first runners on grass at Redcar on Monday when Burnage Boy, and Rockcliffe go head to head in the 5.07.pm, a 0-65 handicap over two miles, on what is at the time of writing, good to firm ground.
Rockcliffe is now one of our longest residents, having arrived from the Mick Channon yard in August 2016, and has been campaigned over hurdles, and on the flat, winning three times over hurdles, he was also a winner on the flat before joining us. Rockcliffe has always preferred a sound surface, but may find this two miles stretching his stamina, on what will his first start since December, Barry McHugh has been booked to ride.
Whether this two miles will suit Burnage Boy is open to question, as his only other attempt at the trip was on heavy ground at Catterick when finishing well down the field last October. His best run this season on the All Weather was when staying on over 10 furlongs at Newcastle last September, to finish eighth, but beaten by just five and a half lengths. Our stable apprentice jockey Aiden Brookes, who has been placed on five of his 14 rides to date on the All Weather, has his first ever ride on turf.
To keep up to date with all the latest happenings at Oakwood Stables, and Sharp Hill, click on 'NEWS' at www.mickyhammondracing.
Good luck to the connections, RM&T, S Toomes, J Hill & Partners, and JFW Properties Ltd.