- Monday, 13 January 2025 16:37
- Written by David Pipe
Fighter Allen Winner Wadebridge
I have just returned from a nice few days away in Tenerife with Leanne, so it was lovely to get some sunshine and re-charge the batteries. It was back down to earth with a bang when we returned home on Sunday evening with temperatures a lot colder back here, although they tell me it is much milder than it was while we were away!
- Monday, 06 January 2025 15:02
- Written by David Pipe
Lady Balko Entered in the Classic Chase at Warwick
I hope you all enjoyed a Happy New Year and while the majority of the nation returns to normality this week, going back to work and school, I can take a welcome breath as things calm down a little after a hectic festive period.
While a little quiet on the runners front in recent days there has been plenty going on at home while we also fit in some half days for staff to try to let them have a little bit of downtime to spend with their families. I have to confess, I did not see the New Year in, I was in bed before heading racing on New Year’s Day at Exeter where the weather was miserable but it was nice to see many familiar faces in good spirits at the track.
- Monday, 30 December 2024 16:30
- Written by G Edwards
Kingston Queen Sedgefield Winner
We travelled across the country in search of winners on Boxing Day and thankfully our endeavours paid off with and across the card double. The day did not quite start as well as I would have hoped with Walkadina and Vision De Main running below expectations. Vision De Maine returned with a nasty little cut, which he was quite sore on initially, but this is improving every day and I am sure he will bounce back to his true form next time.
- Monday, 23 December 2024 16:36
- Written by David Pipe
Windbeneathmywings Winner at Ascot
It has been another good week for the yard with three winners, which included a breath-taking stable debut from Windbeneathmywings, and two wins for the ultra-tough and likeable mare, Lady Balko. We are now on 36 winners for the season and I hope we can add to this further before 2024 draws to a close.
- Monday, 16 December 2024 16:43
- Written by David Pipe
King Turgeon - Winner at Cheltenham
It has been a great few days for the yard with a wonderful winner at Cheltenham on Friday and the sixth win of the year for Chemical Warfare at Newcastle on Saturday. King Turgeon has been the revelation of the season so far for the Pond House team, putting in a career best effort at Prestbury Park on Friday to win a competitive Premier handicap chase. King Turgeon started this autumn by winning impressively at Chepstow and then following up in the Grand Sefton chase at Aintree over the National fences. The plan was the Becher Chase at Aintree on the 9th December but Storm Darragh put pay to best laid plans.
- Monday, 09 December 2024 16:26
- Written by David Pipe
Rian Corcoran Winner
We have not added to our winners tally in the last few days with the weather putting pay to some plans and from our very few runners we have had three seconds since last writing. Pachacuti bounced back from a below par effort on his seasonal return with a good performance at Wincanton, just losing out in a prolonged duel up the straight. He appreciated the return to three miles and he did nothing wrong in defeat, probably just bumping into a well-handicapped rival on old form. He has come out of the race well and it will not be too long before he will be back out on the track again.
- Monday, 02 December 2024 16:03
- Written by David Pipe
Lady Balko Winner at Plumpton
The horses continue in good form and it was fantastic to start the new week with a winner at Plumpton on Monday with plenty of other good efforts from the team as well. Lady Balko improved on her seasonal comeback run and enjoyed making all the running under Jack Tudor on just her second start over the larger obstacles. She jumped very well with just a couple of novicey mistakes on the way round and had all her rivals in trouble before the second last fence. It was a good performance off a mark of 113 and Jack thought she will be even better returned to a stiffer track. She is a lovely mare with a great attitude and there is more to come from her this season.
- Monday, 25 November 2024 16:54
- Written by David Pipe
Micronormous Winner at Fakenham
It feels like it has been a long week since last writing with plenty going on and lots of challenges brought on by the weather along the way! Our 30th winner of the season was Micronormous at Fakenham. She won on chasing debut under Jack Tudor and it was great to get her off to a winning start over the larger obstacles. She is aptly named, as she is not very big but she has won an Irish point to point and had schooled well at home and it was just nice for me to see her do it on the track. She missed a whole year off through injury before returning in the summer and it is great to be able to reward her group of owner’s patience. This race was a qualifier for a valuable mare’s final back at the track in January and this is now her main target. She needs to finish in the first four in another chase to complete the qualifying criteria, but she has come out of the race well and we will look for another race for her shortly where the ground is not too soft.
- Monday, 18 November 2024 16:52
- Written by David Pipe
Vision De Maine Winne at Lingfield
With weather conditions on the dry side last week, we did not have that many runners last but I was delighted to get another win on the board with Vision De Maine winning for the second time this season, this time at Lingfield and making it two from two over fences. He made one bad jumping error mid-race with which we all had our heart in our mouth for a second but he jumped perfectly after this and he drew away from his nearest pursuers after the last. He is a relentless galloper and the further he goes the better he goes. We will see what the handicapper does to his rating on Tuesday morning but I do not think they can be too harsh and there is plenty more to come.
- Monday, 11 November 2024 16:25
- Written by David Pipe
King Turgeon Winner of the Grand Sefton
(Photo Courtesy of Racing Post)
Best made plans do not always work out, especially when horses are involved but there is a great sense of both relief and pride when they do! The Grand Sefton chase at Aintree over the Grand National fences was an ‘early closing entry’ race and I was keen to enter King Turgeon back in October. King Turgeon has always been an electric jumper of fences and while I think his owners, Somerset Racing, thought I was, a little mad for suggesting the race initially they were good sports and went along with the idea. At that point in time, King Turgeon was yet to run this season and was last in action back in the spring where he was taken out mid race, rather unluckily, by a loose horse at Chepstow.
