Hammond family targeting Summer Plate success with remarkable Ronava

When Mike Hammond ended his training career last September he could not have dreamt of having a leading chance in Britain's summer jumping showpiece ten months on.

However, Ronava will carry Hammond's colours and the hopes of his whole family in front of the ITV3 cameras in the £50,000 2m5½f Listed Betway Summer Plate (3.20), the highlight of Market Rasen's biggest day of the year.

Inexpensively bought as a point-to-point project, Ronava won twice for Hammond's wife Zoe with daughter Lucy in the saddle in the sphere before moving to Richard Newland, for whom the 11-year-old has won his last two starts at Hexham and Stratford by a combined 28 lengths.

The family link does not end there as Ronava will continue his partnership with Hammond's son Charlie after the conditional jockey returned to action last week following surgery on a broken wrist.

Hammond, who was forced to wind down his small-scale Worcestershire operation due to injuries sustained in a fall on the gallops last year, said: "It's pretty surreal for us and there's an awful lot of family sentiment, which is probably a word you shouldn't use with racehorses but does sum it up.

"Ronava has been unbelievable for us – we've kissed a few frogs over the years and found a proper prince. He has an advancing handicap mark but strangely for an 11-year-old, he has an upward profile which is to the merit of Dr Newland."

Mike Hammond: former trainer owns Summer Plate hope Ronava

Nicky Henderson has his eyes on another big summer pot with Pacific De Baune and Casablanca Mix after landing the Summer Cup at Uttoxeter last month with Brave Eagle.

"The race has been the objective for both of them but they are the top two in the weights after very good victories last time," said Henderson. "They are genuine, fast-ground horses and I'm hoping there is no severe rain."

Dan Skelton, who leads Henderson by £50,000 at this very early stage of the trainers' championship, is also double-handed with course winners Gortroe Joe and Value At Risk.

The trainer said: "We've had this in mind for Gortroe Joe since he won at the track in the spring. He's been kept fresh for it and loves going right-handed.

"Value At Risk carries only 9st 13lb with William's [Marshall] 7lb claim and they won round the track together in January. He's been consistent in lots of different races and we thought we'd throw our hat in the ring."

Unbeaten Longhouse seeks eighth straight win in Listed heat

Skelton is looking forward to testing prolific novice Longhouse Sale in a higher grade in the Listed 2m½f Betway Summer Handicap Hurdle (2.10).

Unbeaten in seven starts, Longhouse Sale rates as one of the most exciting summer prospects of recent times, although he faces a tough task carrying topweight in a competitive race.

"He's an amazing horse who has been great for us," said Skelton. "He races correctly and doesn't pull and the trip is fine. He takes three steps up in grade and it's hard with topweight, but there hasn't been a horse to make him extend yet and we'll learn a lot about him."

Olly Murphy appears to be responsible for the main danger to Longhouse Sale in the hat-trick seeking St Gallen, who is joined by stablemate Valentino Dancer.

"St Gallen looks reasonably treated with a lovely weight," said Murphy. "He's in very good form and we're looking forward to running him. Valentino Dancer won well at Perth last time and is another improving horse."

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