What a difference 50 miles can make to the weather, because up at Sedgefield for the jumpers, the going is currently good at the time of writing, while just down the A1 at Wetherby for their flat meeting, they are calling the underfoot conditions soft. We run five at Sedgefield in the afternoon, and one at Wetherby in the evening.
Onenightintown who is yet to get competitive in 13 races under rules, and also in two point to points, is first up at 1.35.pm, a 0-100 handicap chase over two miles, with Alain Cawley retaining the ride. Onenightintown has dropped 16lb in six starts for us since arriving from Ireland last November, but if he is to get competitive he will have to brush up his jumping, which cost him all chance at Carlisle on his last start 38 days ago.
Wishful Thinking goes to post at 2.07.pm, in a 0-100 extended two miles handicap hurdle, with Alain Cawley riding him for the first time. Wishful Thinking is very lightly raced, with this being just his eighth racecourse appearance. He failed to get competitive in five starts in Ireland for the Henry De Bromhead yard, and has pulled up twice for us. After his stable debut last November he was given wind surgery, and at Wetherby on his latest start he wore a first time hood. On both starts he has been far too keen, so once he learns to settle, he will give himself a far better chance.
Max Cennetig makes a return to hurdles for the first time in nearly two years, when he contests division 2 of the 0-100 handicap hurdle, over the extended two miles, with Alain Cawley taking the ride. Max Cennetig has ran his best races over fences, but lost his way last season in four attempts. His past record suggests he will need this first run back in nearly six months, but a confidence booster over hurdles could be just what he needs.
We are doubly represented in the bumper at 4.35.pm, with Dastardly Dick having his second start, and Dat'Shallot making her racecourse debut. Dastardly Dick made his debut at Hexham 22 days ago, when finishing last of the nine runners, looking very green under Alain Cawley, who will once again be in the saddle. Dat'Shallot is the second racecourse representative out of a dual winning mare, who was successful in an Irish point in 2011, and a handicap chase at Thurles in 2014. The mare who was trained in Ireland did run at Sedgefield herself in 2013, when finishing second in a handicap hurdle. Dat'Shallot makes her debut under Conor O'Farrell.
Our final runner on Tuesday is in the evening at Wetherby on the flat, where Walkonby has her fourth start for us at 6.20.pm, in a 10 furlongs 0-75 Class 5 handicap, with Jack Garrity riding her for the first time. Walkonby was a model of consistency as a two and three year old, winning four of her 13 starts, but recently she has been out of sorts. She failed to make any show in her first two attempts over hurdles, and on her return to the flat at Redcar last time she lost her action, and was pulled up, but thankfully the vet reported that there were no abnormalities. Her mark has now slipped to 1lb below her last winning mark, which was in June of last year.
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Good luck to the connections, The Rat Pack Racing Club, D H Lees & Sons Limited, Mrs B M Lofthouse, Mrs Andrea King, Mrs Gemma Hogg, and Cheltenham Trail & Cleeve Racing Club.