- Monday, 22 April 2013 14:25
- Written by David Pipe
Amigo at Ayr
After a busy few days it’s nice to draw breath with no runners today and get ready for the final few days of the season. I flew up to Ayr on Friday and it was great to get our 101st winner of the season courtesy of Amigo. He was scoring for the second time over hurdles since joining Pond House. He does hold an entry at Punchestown later this week but we shall see how the handicapper reacts before deciding whether he goes to Ireland or he could be entered for the three miles handicap hurdle at Haydock on Swinton day in a couple of weeks time. Wherever he goes next I am really looking forward to running him over fences next season.
Although we did not get any other Scottish winners I was delighted with Big Occasion's second in the National. After the ground being described as heavy, standing water earlier in the week it dried significantly to good to soft, good in places come Saturday. I was worried about the ground for our six year old but it did not inconvenience him too much and he ran a cracker. He was given a good ride by Mikey Ennis who held him up in midfield before he came through to chase the winner, albeit in vain all the way up the home straight! Both the winner and our horse are exciting young staying chasers and I am sure they will be contesting all the top marathon races next season. While Big Occasion is now off on his summer holidays, his first big target next year is likely to be the Welsh National. I am sure when Coolmore bred him they weren't intending to breed a Grand National type but he is a lovely young horse and it has been fantastic for his owners, The Old Betfairians as he has given them lots of fun this season and he will continue to do so next year.
We also had Problema Tic running in the Scottish National. Unfortunately he got no further than the second fence when taking a crashing fall and bringing down another runner. Thankfully I am pleased to report that the horse is fine following his tumble but Tom Scu was not so lucky. He was concussed and taken to Ayr hospital but thankfully the scans came back clear and he was allowed home. He is okay, having an easy few days at home and hoping to be back in action at the weekend.
At this point I would like to congratulate Charlotte Scudmore who completed the London Marathon yesterday in a time of 5 hours 11 minutes. Lottie had been struggling with a knee injury for the past few weeks so it was a particularly good effort. She was running for the South West Children’s Hospice. She has raised over £11,000 and you can still donate to a very worthy cause by visiting the link www.justgiving.com/charlotte-scudamore. She thoroughly enjoyed the experience and although a little tired and sore this morning she has eaten up but trotted up a little unsound! Well done Charlotte, a fantastic achievement!
Meanwhile, back at Ayr His Excellency ran yet another fine race to finish second in a competitive two mile handicap chase. Mikey Ennis rode a patient race and he could just not get to the winner up the straight. He has been a wonderful fun horse this season and picked up more valuable prize money. He has won one race this season and has been placed in some high class races and has picked up money in every race apart from one, taking his earnings to over £60,000 since joining Pond House. He is entered at Punchestown on Thursday and he may go there or run at Sandown on Saturday. He loves his racing and came out of the stable bouncing this morning!
Shotavodka was due to run in the Scottish Champion hurdle and Buddy Bolero was also going to run at Ayr on Saturday but they were both withdrawn because of the quickening ground. Shotavodka does have an entry at Sandown on Saturday but their next runs are rain dependent and it maybe that they are now on their holidays but we shall see what happens. They are two lovely horses to look forward to next season.
I just feel sorry for their owners as they have to pay for the transport when I believe they have been mislead about the going. We declared on soft/heavy ground on Friday morning at (10am) when our horses left. Only to hear from Tom Scu in the evening saying it is much quicker and will be quicker again on Saturday. We all know that at this time of year it can dry quickly but they had obviously called the ground wrong at the beginning. Once again the owner pays and there should be some kind of compensation for them when a mistake has been made.
Last Wednesday there was racing at Cheltenham followed by the Brightwells sales in the evening. Unfortunately the day got off to a sad start when we lost African Broadway when he was fatally injured from a fall. He was a lovely seven year old who won four races and he was dearly loved by his owners so our heartfelt wishes go out to them. It was also terribly sad news at the loss of Zaynar. He had run a fantastic race at Taunton last time but unfortunately he suffered an injury in the race and despite the best veterinary care we sadly could not save him. Our thoughts and prayers are with his owners.
Goulanes ran a fine race at Cheltenham and finished second in the novice chase. The ground had probably dried a bit too much for our six year old and he is another I am really excited about running in the top staying chases of next season. We had a successful evening at the sales and came back with four lovely young horses to add to our team. They are all back at Pond House and settling in well. Winning English point to pointers Vazaro Delafayette and Knight of Noir are joined by Irish pointers Sivron and Smiles For Miles. They are all exciting prospects for next season and I can't wait already despite this one not being over yet!
Ashkazar Retired
Ashkazar ran at Cheltenham on Thursday. He was the winner of the race in 2012 but he has not shown much sparkle in three runs this season and David Johnson has decided to retire him. Timmy Murphy’s wife Verity is looking forward to having him and he is sure to enjoy a great retirement. He his only nine years old but he feels like a piece of the furniture having been at Pond House since he was a three year old! He has done us and owner David Johnson proud over the years, winning on the flat in France before winning two chases and seven hurdle races. This included the 2008 Imperial Cup and he then went on to finish second in the Fred Winter at the Cheltenham Festival three days later. He won the Kingwell hurdle at Wincanton the following season and then won some other top hurdle races along the way. He is a lovely character, looked after by my partner Leanne since he came from France and he will be sadly missed but we know he will enjoy a fantastic retirement.
Yesterday my father hosted a visit to the stable of the HMS Decoy Association. He and Chester entertained over 50 members of the group who were all former crew of the ship. They were having a reunion locally and showed a special interest in our horse ‘Decoy’ and posed for photographs with him and saw horses work on the gallops, swimming and in the loose school. Not many had visited a racing yard before and they all enjoyed a fantastic morning and enjoyed their visit greatly.
We do have a few entries this week including at Punchestown. The Liquidator is our only definite runner in the Champion Bumper on Wednesday and top amateur Jane Mangan has been booked to ride. Our son of Alikat ran a fine race to finish fourth in the Festival Bumper and we are hopeful of another good run. His Excellency and Amigo are also entered but as I mentioned earlier they do have alternative options and a decision has not yet been made as to where they will go or not.
On the home front we have three runners at Towcester tomorrow evening, Henok, Weather Babe and Storm Lantern. Conor O’Farrell rides all of these. We have Milor De La Borie running at Newton Abbot and Leader of the Gang running at Ffos Las. We will have a few runners throughout the week and I am looking forward to the final day of the 2012-13 National Hunt season culminating at Sandown on Saturday. Junior has been taken out of the Bet365 Chase but we have entered Shotavodka, Dan Breen, Home Run and Garynella in the handicap hurdle and Dan Breen and His Excellency in the Celebration chase. We also have a few entries at Market Rasen on Saturday while we hope to get the new season on Sunday off to a flier with a few entries at Ludlow, Huntingdon and Wetherby.
