There can be no doubt that the horses are fit and well, judging from those that have run since the resumption of racing. Frankelio won at Pontefract two weeks ago,and all the other representatives have run well since,with Quoteline Direct backing up his seasonal appearance, when finished third at Beverley, just over a week ago.On Monday at Thirsk, Irv showed that he has trained on, and could even better last seasons successes, when finishing second at 18/1.Convivial showed her first form with a game forth of 11, beaten just two and a half lengths at the same meeting, and at Doncaster on Tuesday Mick ran a cracker to finish third, showing that his turn is not far away.
We have two runners at Catterick on Thursday, when Maison D'Or, and Rockcliffe both line up against each other in the 2.50pm, taking on another 11 opponents over two miles, Maison D'Or will be partnered by Graham Lee, and Rockliffe by Paul Mulrennan. Maison D'Or is bred to be a top class flat horse, being by champion sire Galileo, but he has shown a preference for jumping hurdles, over extreme distances.On Thursday he races off a mark of only 45, which when compared to his jump mark of 104, looks very attractive, but he is coming off a 187 day break, and any rain would help.
Rockcliffe would be happy with the predicted good ground, and ran his best ever race for us back in December 2018, here at Catterick, but that was over hurdles. He last raced on the flat in August 2019, at Ripon, from the same mark as he races off this time,when finishing third of the five runners, this easier two miles should suit better.
To keep up to date with all the latest happenings at Oakwood Stables, click on 'NEWS' at www.mickyhammondracing.
Good luck to the connections, D.Lees, and RM&T, S.Toomes, J Hill & Partners.