GEMMA Hogg, assistant trainer to Middleham handler Micky Hammond, was named as Employee of the Year at the 2016 Godolphin Stud and Stable Staff Awards in London on Monday evening.

Make no mistake, this is a massive deal for all the hard-working stable staff who keep the show on the road.

The 34-year-old received the perpetual Godolphin Trophy from presenter Clare Balding and special guest presenter Sir Tony McCoy, along with a cheque for £30,000, of which £10,000 will be shared among the staff at Hammond's Oakwood Stables.

Gemma, who also picked up the Leadership Award on the night, joined the Oakwood team in 1998 and was particularly commended for her work in re-homing their retired racehorses.

Beaming with delight, Leeds-born Gemma said: "You've got to believe in yourself and do it for the team, but to win the overall award – I was thinking this can't be happening.

"I hope all the lads at the yard have enjoyed this as well because it is for them; it is Micky Hammond above the door."

Two other staff at Oakwood Stables – head girl Becky Smith and work rider Lauren Lucas – were nominated for awards, along with Raye Wilkinson, welfare officer for Middleham trainer Mark Johnston.

Another winner was Alyson Deniel, of Mews House Stables, in Malton, who received the Rider Groom Award.

On the track, Hammond's horses continue to give them all plenty to smile about and Faiseur De Miracle looks a smart horse on the Flat for the team, impressing when winning the maiden at Wolverhampton on Monday under Graham Lee.

One of Hammond's Middleham neighbours is trainer Philip Kirby, who is keen to play the long game with Courtown Oscar following his wide-margin victory in the mud at Carlisle, also on Monday.

The seven-year-old has been a regular visitor to the Cumbrian circuit during his short career, with this his third triumph at the track in the space of 12 months.

Having finished third over the course and distance 12 days earlier, Courtown Oscar was a 9-2 chance for his latest assignment in the Weatherbys Hamilton Handicap Chase and galloped all the way to the line in the demanding conditions to score by 12 lengths in the hands of Adam Nicol.

Kirby sees his charge as very much a work in progress, and said: "He stays well and I thought he jumped better than he did here on his last run.

"He's still a big baby and doesn't want over-facing at this stage. Even today he was a bit tapped for toe at one stage, but he's kept going and done it well in the end.

"We'll take our time with him as he's been busy enough recently. I think he'll be a nice staying chaser in two years' time."

Tomorrow, the Betfred Eider Chase takes centre stage at Newcastle and Rose Dobbin is looking forward to a big run from the in-form Rocking Blues.

Just seven days on from the biggest success of her training career with Jonniesofa at Haydock last weekend, Dobbin now has her sights set on the £85,000 prize.

The 11-year-old has won his last two starts and looked like winning the time before when he fell.

He gets to run from a mark 9lb lower than the handicapper would like him to as it was an early-closing race, meaning he has just a 6lb penalty rather than a 15lb hike for his Kelso win.

"We definitely plan to run him," said Dobbin.

"He's on the crest of a wave at the minute and the handicapper is basically forcing us into it.

"The only thing worrying me is if the ground continues to dry out. If it stays as it is, good to soft, that will be fine.

"If it is predominantly good, we'd have to think about it as he's pretty fragile and has been off with tendon trouble twice.

"If he didn't run, he could go for the Midlands National or a veterans' race at Carlisle."