We send six runners up to Carlisle on Monday, where the going at the time of writing is soft, and good to soft in places on the hurdles course.
First up at 1.0.pm, in a 0-120 conditional jockeys handicap hurdle, over two miles and three furlongs is Applaus, who will have the assistance of Emma Smith-Chaston in the saddle for the first time. Applaus is a horse who appears to go best when fresh, and duly made a great start to his season when finishing second at Southwell after a seven months break back in December. He was slightly disappointing at Wetherby 12 days later, but was back on track at Carlisle when once again finishing the runner up three weeks ago.
Bandit D'Ainay makes a quick reappearance just four days after pulling up at Sedgefield, where his jockey Alain Cawley felt that he had lost his action, Thankfully all is well and Bandit D'Ainay will take his chance in the 0-120 handicap chase over two miles at 2.45.pm, with Alain once again in the saddle. Bandit D'Ainay ran his best race for us since arriving from France when finishing fourth to Knocknamona at Newcastle in January, but when back at that track three weeks later he disappointed on ground that he found too fast.
The ex Irish Larry Looby makes his British and stable debut at 3.20.pm, in a 0-110 handicap chase over three miles and two furlongs, with Alain Cawley in the saddle. Larry Looby was a point to point winner back in 2018, but has yet to place in 14 starts over fences, and two runs over hurdles under rules. He starts out for us in a race where he has to race from 10lb out of the weights, on what is his first start since last September. His Irish form suggests that a sounder surface will also probably suit better.
We are doubly represented at 3.55.pm, in the 0-105 handicap hurdle over two miles and one furlong. Penpal who will be ridden by Becky Smith for the first time continues to struggle to regain his best form, which saw him win over hurdles at Pau back in May 2020. The pick of his form from his 10 starts for us came under a penalty in a novice hurdle at Catterick when finishing an 11 and a half lengths fifth, back in December 2020. The handicapper continues to relent, and he now races from a new low mark of 82.
We are also represented in the race by Great Raffles who reappears 12 days after finishing a very respectable two and a quarter lengths third at Wetherby, over their extended two miles and three furlongs in first time cheek pieces, which are now discounted with for a first time visor. That was the first decent jumps form he has shown in 11 attempts, but this will be more difficult as he is now 6lb worse off at the weights, and Jack Hogan who claimed 7lb on him last time is unavailable, so Alain Cawley who has ridden him on seven previous occasions is back in the saddle.
Our final runner is Trevelyn's Corn who goes to post for the 4.30.pm, a 0-120 novices handicap chase over two and a half miles, with Emma Smith-Chaston who recently lost her 7lb claim riding for the first time with her new 5lb claim. Trevelyn's Corn was once thought of as a potential superstar after winning at Wincanton in 2019 for the Paul Nicholls yard, but he has suffered career setbacks which saw him race only twice more in the next two and a half years. He made his stable debut for us at Newcastle in December when finishing seventh, and improved on that at Catterick on New Years Day to finish fourth. He now steps back down in trip by five furlongs, and his mark is 10lb lower than when starting out at Newcastle.
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 Gemma Hogg, The Golden Cuckoo, and D Lees,
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