Great Form!

We started the ball rolling on Thursday at my local track Taunton with my father’s horse Home Run who was completing a quick-fire double of his own in the handicap hurdle following victory at Exeter the previous week.  Ridden this time by young Kieron Edgar who was taking a handy 10lbs off his back, he was given a positive ride, kicking clear off the home turn to win nicely.  He has come out of those races well and does hold further entries this week so we may turn him out again before the handicapper can have his say.

On the same card we were successful with Doctor Harper in the concluding bumper and he looks like a very nice prospect.  Always to the fore under Conor O’Farrell he kept pulling out more as he was challenged and won with a bit in hand from August Hill with a big gap back to the remainder of the field.  He looks sure to add to that success and will make a smashing hurdler/chaser in time.

The following day at Cheltenham we enjoyed something of a surprise success in the Grade 3 Majordomo Hospitality handicap chase when Midlands National winner Master Overseer put his best foot forward.  ‘Mo’ stays forever and that certainly stood him in good stead on the bottomless ground.  While he certainly wouldn’t be considered as one of the quickest horses in training, he is certainly one of the most resolute and is a great favourite at Pond House.  Having looked beaten when headed at the last, he staged a brave rally to get back up and win going away from Quartz de Thaix under a fine front-running ride from Tom Scudamore.  He will continue to be a force in all of the top staying handicap chases where stamina is at a premium.

Conor O’Farrell has been riding with great confidence of late and that has shown in his results.  He followed-up Thursday’s success with a double on Saturday aboard Take Over Sivola and Tanerko Emery (pictured above) at Lingfield.  I thought that Tanerko Emery’s success was particularly impressive given his welter burden of 12-2 and the fact that he didn’t appear to enjoy this really testing ground at all.  He has now won three of his four starts since joining us and there is no reason why he cannot continue to improve.  He will be given a little break now before we aim him at a higher class race next time.

We had runners at the final Hereford meeting yesterday (Sunday) but sadly we were unable to get on the score sheet – a second with Franklin Roosevelt was our best result on the card.  I am greatly saddened by the closure of this track.  We have enjoyed plenty of successes here down the years and while it is true that it could probably do with a little modernisation and an increase in funding for prize money purposes, the track has been in operation since 1771 and we are losing a part of our racing heritage with it’s demise.  The same comments apply to Folkestone who hold their last meeting tomorrow before permanent closure…these are sad times.

I was also saddened to see that former Pond House inmate Tyrone Bridge passed away at the weekend at the age of 26.  He was a cracking good horse who finished runner-up in the Ascot Gold Cup on only his second start for my father as well as winning a whole host of good races over hurdles including the Grade One Challow hurdle at Newbury.

On a positive note, I am able to give an upbeat bulletin on Grands Crus, who continues to please me with his work at home following his wind operation.  I am still hopeful that we will make the King George at Kempton on Boxing Day, although I would stress that if you are interested in having a little wager on him; try to do so ‘with a run’.  A decision on his participation will be left until the eleventh hour to give him every chance and he will not run if he is not 100% ready.

Although we do not have any runners tomorrow, we have loads of entries for the remainder of the week at Ludlow, Newbury, Towcester, Exeter, Kempton, Uttoxeter and Ascot and while we have a few days off leading up to Christmas, it all kicks off again with top class action on Boxing Day…but more of that next week!