On Saturday we have runners at Newcastle, Doncaster, and also on the all weather at Wolverhampton in the evening.
It's 'Fighting Fifth' day at Newcastle, and prior to the big one we have Just Paddy's Band making his hurdles debut in the maiden hurdle at 2.40.pm, over two miles with Conor O'Farrell riding him for the first time, on ground that is described as good, good to soft in places. Just Paddy's Band is a big flashy gelding who won first time out in bumper company back in March, and has run respectably under a penalty on both of his other two starts, which were in October and November, where on the latter occasion he was a staying on fourth at Kelso, and possibly ran his best race yet.
We have had two bumper winners in the last week, and the new recruit Royle Steel will be our latest representative in that discipline when he contests the juvenile bumper at 2.53.pm, over one mile and five furlongs with Alain Cawley taking the ride. Royle Steel is a French bred, and was bought at the same time as our recent Wetherby winner Geryville, from the French trainer F-M Cottin, back in the summer. His dam was placed over fences as a four year old, and his sire Spanish Moon was a Group 1 winner at Saint-Cloud back in 2009.
The Retriever has his second start of his new campaign when going to post at Wolverhampton over seven furlongs at 7.0.pm, in a 0-60 handicap, from his current mark of 60 with his regular jockey Aiden Brookes in the saddle. The Retriever takes his racing well having run 16 times in 10 months before being given a break from late June to early November. He definitely isn't as good on grass, but does go well on an artificial surface, particularly the sand at Southwell which sadly has now gone. This will be his first visit to Wolverhampton where a low draw over seven furlongs is advantageous, unfortunately he has been unlucky on this occasion, as he has to come out of stall 10.
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, Chapman, Tennant & Turnbull, A E Tasker, and RM&T Holdings Limited & Partners.
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