Hammond: racing can't afford to lose owners like Buckingham

Micky Hammond, who was told by Craig Buckingham not to declare Nine O Three to Hexham on Friday after the Nottingham wrong-horse withdrawal fallout, insists racing cannot afford to lose owners like him.

The Middleham trainer could also send Buckingham’s promising four-year-old Ask Paddington, comfortable winner of a Perth bumper in July, to Kelso on Sunday for a novice hurdle.

He said: “Craig has been an owner with us for the best part of two years. He’s a real good supporter of the yard.