We have a total of six runners on Friday, when we send four to Market Rasen for their jumps fixture, and two to Catterick for their flat card.
At Market Rasen the going is described as good, and they are watering to maintain. The seven year old mare Raddle And Hum goes first in the 1.40.pm, a 0-100 novices handicap hurdle over the extended two and a half miles. Raddle And Hum had been off the track for more than 14 months when returning at Fakenham 12 days ago. She travelled well until blowing up three out, but got her second wind to run on at the finish, to fill the third spot, beaten by six and a quarter lengths. She is well handicapped on the best of her previous form, and providing the race doesn't come too soon, she should be in the mix, with Becky Smith retaining the ride.
High Noon won at this track 15 days ago when taking advantage of a lenient handicap mark. He has been raised 4lb for that, which seems fair, and he remains well handicapped. The race is at 3.25.pm, a 0-105 handicap chase over two miles and five furlongs, with Conor O'Farrell once again in the saddle. This race is over an extra two furlongs than last time, but he should have enough stamina to see it out, on a surface which will suit.
Onenightintown makes his eighth start for us since arriving from Ireland last November. In nine attempts when trained overseas he failed to get competitive, and unfortunately to date it has been the same story for us. His handicap mark continues to fall, but race conditions mean he is having to run from 7lb out of the weights. The race is at 4.0.pm, a 0-105 novices handicap chase, over two miles and one furlong, with Alain Cawley retaining the ride.
Dastardly Dick continues hie education at 4.40.pm, a bumper to be run over the extended two miles, with Alain Cawley back on board. This will be Dastardly Dick's third start, he finished last on debut at Hexham in April, and pulled too hard early on last time at Sedgefield last time, but showed definite progression. He is a horse who is going to need time, and we will be seeing him over hurdles shortly.
We also have two runners at Catterick where the going at the time of writing is good to firm, and they are also watering to maintain. The Retriever makes a quick reappearance in division 1 of the 0-55, seven furlong handicap at 4.50.pm, with Aiden Brookes retaining the ride. The Retriever finished 12th in a field of 20 at Redcar on Tuesday, with the verdict being that he didn't see out a fast run straight mile, and that this seven furlongs around a turn would be more suitable. He has been in tremendous form on the all weather over the winter, particularly at Southwell, but his flat mark is 7lb lower on the turf.
Red Skye Delight goes in Division 2 at 5.20.pm, with Jack Garritty who has ridden her on three previous occasions back in the saddle. This will be Red Skye Delight's first ever appearance on grass, on her 22nd start. She remains a maiden, but has finished runner up four times. This fast seven furlongs could be just what she needs, as she is a keen goer, so she could be competitive if taking to the turf.
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Good luck to the connections, Miss Rebecca Dennis, Nick Pietrzyk And Partner, The Rat Pack Racing Club, Mrs Andrea King, and RM&T Holdings Limited & Partners.