AS NIGHT racing kicks in and we get into the busiest time of the year, Micky Hammond has his horses in fantastic form, with winners coming nearly on a daily basis, under all codes.

Starting last Friday, the Middleham trainer saddled Only Orsenfoolies to land the valuable Braveheart Handicap up at Hamilton Park.

The winner received a fine front running ride from PJ McDonald, who said afterwards: "Only Orsenfoolsies loves soft ground and I thought if I got my own way up front he would take a bit of catching."

The next day, at Thirsk, Hammond and McDonald were on the mark again, this time with Sherry in the staying maiden.

Hammond was at the track, and delighted with the performance, he said: "I thought she ran well on Sherry's first run for us on the Flat and she's improved from that run to this. She won a bumper for us and the owners decided that they would like to race her on the Flat and then breed from her. She's going to be a better Flat horse than a bumper horse."

Staying at Thirsk, the opening two-year-old race looked a smart race on paper and the winner, Richter Scale, looks a smart filly.

Ridden by Paul Mulrennan, the winner is trained by Michael Dods who said: "Richter Scale is a useful filly. I thought she'd win first time out at Ripon, but it just didn't go right for her there. She's got plenty of boot, but I think she'll stay six furlongs. We just might think about Royal Ascot for her; we'll have to see."

Newcastle raced on Tuesday and the Hammond and McDonald combination teamed up for more success, this time with Cadmium, a filly who is unexposed with this yard and can win again.

Alan Swinbank is also enjoying a fine run with his string and he was on the mark with Kinema.

Ridden by Ben Curtis, who said afterwards: "Kinema is a big horse, with plenty of experience, and he's been running well. He settled well today and when he dropped the bit I wasn't going to kick him back into it so I left him where he was. When I got out I was always going to win."

It's hard to believe the Epsom Derby is only a fortnight away and news broke on Wednesday evening that Godolphin have bought into the partnership that owns Dante Stakes runner-up Jack Hobbs, who will race in the royal blue colours of Sheikh Mohammed's operation and remain in training with John Gosden.

The runaway Sandown handicap winner was favourite for the Investec Derby heading into the prestigious trial on the Knavesmire last week, but was beaten by stablemate Golden Horn, who is set to be supplemented for the Epsom Classic.

A son of Halling, Jack Hobbs has the Epsom option, as well as Royal Ascot and the Irish Derby at the Curragh, for which he was himself added to the potential field at a cost of 12,500 Euros on Wednesday.

Sheikh Mohammed's bloodstock advisor John Ferguson said on www.godolphin.com: "Jack Hobbs has run just three times and has shown remarkable progression.

"John Gosden, who also trained his sire Halling for us, has a high opinion of the colt. He has loads of scope and class and looks like the kind of horse that will only improve with age."

The deal was brokered by Blandford Bloodstock, whose Tom Goff said: "There has been a lot of interest in Jack Hobbs.

"The possibilities for him are the Derby, the King Edward VII Stakes and the Irish Derby.

"I believe he's got an exciting future."