- Monday, 10 March 2025 13:36
- Written by David Pipe
Activist Winner at Fontwell
We are of course on the eve of the Cheltenham Festival and we head to Prestbury Park tomorrow with two runners who have each way chances. King Turgeon runs in the Ultima handicap chase at 2.40pm while Gericault Roque runs in the 5.20pm National Hunt chase and Jack Tudor rides both.
- Monday, 03 March 2025 16:01
- Written by David Pipe
Jurancon Winner at Newbury
Jurancon was a welcome winner at Newbury on Saturday, his third win of the season on his first try in handicap company. His form figures for us now read 12121211 in his career so as you can see he is a very nice horse who always runs his race. He won this race off a mark of 127 and did things pretty comfortably. Jack Tudor said he does not do a lot when he hits the front so there is more to come. There are no immediate plans for him but he has come out of the race well and he will be an exciting novice chaser next season. He will appreciate a step up in distance at some point but he is not short of speed and if the ground stays soft enough he will be running again this season and Aintree is a possibility.
- Monday, 24 February 2025 15:50
- Written by David Pipe
Gericault Roque
Cheltenham Handicap Weights Revealed this Week
Skin Full and Chauffeur Driven were our best runners of last week and both horses filled the runner up spots carrying the colours of owner Sarah Ling. We stepped Skin Full up in distance, to three miles for the first time under rules and he put in his best performance to date. He had finished second in and Irish point to point so we knew he would stay and he appreciated the better going and unfortunately, for us, he just lost out in a prolonged battle with the eventual winner. He showed a good attitude and galloped all the way to the line. I think we may have ‘bumped into one’ on this occasion and on this evidence our six year old is capable of winning a similar contest going forwards.
- Monday, 17 February 2025 16:10
- Written by David Pipe
River Run Free Winner at Leicester
River Run Free won for the second time over fences at Leicester last week, putting in another polished round of jumping in the process. He is now two from two over the larger obstacles in handicap company. The winning distance was not that far but he did it nicely and I hope that the handicapper cannot put him up too much for this, though we shall find out on Tuesday! There is more to come from our six year old and he will appreciate an even great test of stamina in due course.
- Monday, 10 February 2025 16:01
- Written by David Pipe
Sidi Ismael Winner at Chipley Point to Point
We have not had many runners in the last week on the track but we did have four runners at our local Chipley Park point to point on Saturday, which yielded two winners for the team. Fighter Allen won the Mixed Open and Sidi Ismael the novice riders race, both were ridden by our young amateur Rian Corcoran and this was his first ever double so many congratulations to him.
- Monday, 03 February 2025 15:54
- Written by David Pipe
River Run Free Winner at Lingfield
From limited runners last week we added another winner to the seasons tally taking us to 44, with River Run Free winning well at Lingfield on Friday. He was making his chasing and handicap debut with a first time tongue strap and all these elements combined saw an improved performance and nice win. He had run well in an Irish point to point to finish second to the horse, Final Demand and we saw how impressive he was in winning at Leopardstown on Saturday. River Run Free had struggled a bit in is hurdles to date, but appreciated the larger obstacles and travelled and jumped well before really battling on gamely in the finish when Jack Tudor asked him for his effort. The front two did pull away from the rest but I do not think the handicapper can be too harsh for this victory and there should be plenty more fun to be had with him going forwards.
- Monday, 27 January 2025 16:26
- Written by David Pipe
Jilaijone Winner at Uttoxeter
Our only runners of the week were on Saturday and it was brilliant to get an across the card double with Belfrina and Jilaijone. Belfrina made it third time lucky at Doncaster on Saturday to win a listed mares hurdle and get some valuable black type in the process. She was unlucky in her previous race at the course, falling at the final hurdle when looking likely to win. It was actually the same two fillies locking horns again from two out this time around it was more of a battle this time, but our filly showed a great attitude to knuckle down and win going away close to the line. That was only the fifth run of her life, third over hurdles and she is improving every time. She has a good engine and the heart to match and there is plenty more to come.
- Monday, 20 January 2025 15:54
- Written by David Pipe
Kingston Queen - Listed Bumper Winner
It has been a great week for the yard since last writing with another three winners added to the season’s tally, which included a listed success for Kingston Queen at Market Rasen. We are now on 41 winners for the season and are closing in on last year’s 46 winners with a nice amount of prize money won as well.
- 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.
