Interest will be high in tomorrow's $10,000 Ashwell Farm Hurdles at Hastings, with most runners using the race as a dress rehearsal for the Hawkes Bay Hurdles.
The $15,000 Hawkes Bay Hurdles will be run over 3100m on the Hastings track tomorrow week and this weekend's 2500m event provides an excellent lead-up.
Northern stables have plundered many jumping races on the Hastings track.
This time it's no different and northern stables are well represented again with the likes of Crojack, Mr Easystreet, Cuchulainn, Bushland and Man Of Glory in the field.
Crojack is one of the most seasoned in the field, having been placed in several hurdle races already this winter. He got bogged down over the final stages, when third, on a very heavy track at Ellerslie last start but is sure to strike better footing tomorrow.
He has had 18 hurdle starts for four wins and six minor placings.
Mr Easystreet is having his first hurdle race this campaign but has had two flat runs, for fourths at Paeroa (1670m) and Te Rapa (2000m), to prepare him for the test.
He was the winner of three of his five hurdle starts last winter.
Cuchulainn has not raced since September of last year and will probably need the run but Bushland could fill a place at good odds.
He was an upset winner over hurdles at Hastings two starts back and then found the Awapuni track too heavy a fortnight ago.
Man Of Glory was another inconvenienced by a very heavy track at Ellerslie last start and was a winner over hurdles last winter.
The best of the Central Districts horses competing could be the Kevin Myers-trained The Operator, dashing Hastings jumper Lord Neilson and the well performed Black Ace.
The Operator was an easy winner over hurdles at Awapuni two starts back and then turned in a top run for second to Black Dowie in a graduation open flat race over 2060m at Wanganui.
- NZPA
Racing: Northern raiders head for Hastings jumps
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