Christmas is Coming!

 
        Ben Lilly, Neon Moon, Makanao 
This time next week I hope to be enjoying my Christmas dinner with the children having opened all their presents and myself having completed my usual morning work routine.  Our staff choose to work either Christmas Day or New Year’s Day and it usually ends up a 50/50 split without me having to get involved!  Those with children tend to like to be at home on Christmas Day while some actually like to see their horses and work both days.  It is a tradition that has worked well at Pond House for many years.  Leanne and I are hosting this year and will have all the family around the table plus a few extras which include members of staff who are away from their own families.  It will be all hands on deck for feeding up on Christmas evening ahead of Boxing Day, which racing fans probably look forward to more than Christmas Day itself!

We had our traditional Christmas breakfast this morning with baps made to order followed by  mince pies and chocolate (it is Christmas!) all washed down with a glass of Bucks Fizz!  On Wednesday evening this week there are about 50 of us heading out for our Christmas meal at a local restaurant.  We have pre-ordered our food and I am sure it will be a very sociable evening!

Runners Past and Future

We had several placings from our runners last week but a little frustratingly, no winners.  There were good runs from many but that is just the way it goes sometimes.  We will be a little quieter on the runner’s front this week but our first runner is Ya Know Yaseff at Wincanton on Tuesday.  She is already a winner over fences twice this season and is still on a workable mark.  Last time we dropped her back in trip to simply qualify her for the mare’s final at Hereford and this didn’t play to her strengths.  Unfortunately she was a little too far out of the weights to take up her intended engagement in the final on Saturday but will appreciate the return to three miles.  Gearoid Harney was on board when she won at Newton Abbot and claims a handy six pounds off her in this conditional jockeys chase.

On Wednesday we have a runner under both codes with Itseemslikeit running at Newbury and Ocean Heights runs on the flat at Kempton.  Itseemslike it runs in the 2m4f EBF novices hurdle with Jack Tudor riding.  It looks a tough race on paper but I really like our four year old and he was the impressive winner at Ffos Las last time.  Ocean Heights runs in the opening race of the Kempton card, a 1m4f apprentice race and Aiden Brookes rides.  Our six year old has run really well on his last two starts at the track finishing a close third and a close second when he didn’t have much luck in running.  He will enjoy the extra distance again today and I would like to think he has a good chance.

Looking further ahead, we have entries at Exeter and Ffos Las on Thursday and Uttoxeter on Friday.  At the weekend we just have two entries at Ascot which includes Eden Du Houx and Make Me A Believer in the three mile feature handicap chase.  For more news on the stable runners please keep an eye on the daily blog on the website.

Fergus Gillard

Congratulations to Fergus Gillard who rode out his claim on Friday, riding his 75^th career winner at Doncaster.  While not based with us anymore, Fergus joined our team from school and it has been a pleasure to be involved in his development.  He is a talented rider but an even better person, if only he wasn’t so tall, meaning he struggles a bit with his weight, he would get more opportunities.  He has probably ridden the majority of his winners for me and he still keeps in touch and rides out at Pond House when he can.  I was delighted we teamed up together with Amercian Sniper last month to win at Cheltenham and it was special as it was his first Cheltenham winner.  I know it was his ambition to ride out his claim and I am sure he can continue to have a nice few winners this season.

Away Days

Every horse is different and a bit like people you have to treat them all a bit differently to get the best out of them.  We often send horses out to see the hounds and today it was the turn for Ben Lilly, Neon Moon and Makanao.  They love to go out and do something different, hacking through the countryside.  I’m not sure who enjoys it most though, the horses or the staff!!

Christmas Period

From Boxing Day to New Year’s Day is a very busy time in the racing calendar.  Boxing Day entries close on Wednesday this week, with the declarations to run done on the Saturday ahead of Tuesday.  There is of course the Welsh National on Wednesday 27^th December and plenty of other top class action to look forward to.  Busy times but something for us all to look forward to in the next couple of weeks.