Newcastle were meant to be jumping on Tuesday, but the turf track was declared unraceable, so a jumpers bumpers card on the All Weather track as been hastily rearranged, and to show how much it is needed, and how popular they are, 115 horses have been declared to run.
Our first runner is Clear White Light who makes his racecourse debut at 12.25.pm. He is probably the best bred horse in Oakwood Stables at the moment, being the first racecourse representative of the seven furlong Listed winner Dalkova, herself a daughter of the great Galileo. Clear White Light can also boast the multiple producer of Group winners, Dubawi as his sire. He was bred by the Godolphin organisation, but didn't race for them as he is a late developer, Billy Garritty will take the ride.
To say form goes out of the window when trying to weigh up the horses in jumpers bumpers is perhaps an overstatement, but it is still wise to tread carefully. Our runner in the 12.55.pm is the ultra consistent Stormin Norman, who looks to have things in his favour.This stiff two miles on the flat is what he needs, and although he is racing on tapeta for the first time, it will be a surprise if he doesn't take to it. It can also be said (tongue in cheek) that his jockey Billy Garritty is the most experienced, and successful jockey in this discipline (flat racing) in the race.
We run Foster'sisland in the 1.55.pm, with our stable conditional jockey Aiden Macdonald taking the ride.He had some very good bumper form on the turf when contesting three of those events last season, particularly when finishing second at Catterick last March, but since sent hurdling he hasn't looked like the same horse, struggling badly on all four attempts. This return to a bumper could be just what he needs to get his season back on track.
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, Run For Home Racing, The Monday Club, and The Oakwood Nobels.