- Monday, 27 May 2013 12:11
- Written by David Pipe
Following a few near misses I was pleased to sign off the week with a couple of winners. Waterunder and Massannie provided some welcome success and took our tally for the new season onto five. The race that Waterunder won was something of a charade considering that for this two mile handicap hurdle the competitors had only to jump three hurdles due to the setting sun, indeed it was more like a bumper and Tom Scudamore produced an excellent ride to get our charge home in front. Don’t get me wrong… I am delighted to have won the race, but as far as I can remember the sun has always been where it is and I don’t recall horse or jockey going around the obstacles 20 years ago!
I was particularly impressed by the performance of Massannie who was making her debut for the yard when landing the mares’ maiden hurdle at Uttoxeter on Sunday. She had previously won a bumper at Ffos Las but had become disappointing and was beaten a long way on her first start over hurdles last time and was subsequently moved to Pond House towards the end of March. She isn’t the most straightforward of characters but this performance underlined that she possesses plenty of ability and she should certainly be able to win something similar over the summer, particularly while the ground remains on the quick side.
Interestingly both of our winners were owned by Wayne and Sarah Clifford (while Massannie was also bred by them) who sponsor our yard and I can’t think of too many owners that deserve it more. Wayne and Sarah are massive supporters of racing in our country and sponsor races on the flat and over jumps across the country and the sport in general owes them a great debt of thanks.
Of our other runners, I thought that Garryleigh ran another solid race when finishing runner-up for the fourth time in five starts at Towcester on Tuesday. Third Of The Third was in the process of running a decent race when giving Conor O’Farrell a nasty fall at the last at Ffos Las on Saturday when in second place. He went to hospital for x-rays but was discharged later than night and will hopefully be back riding later this week.
Junior finished fifth under topweight in a competitive handicap chase at Wetherby on Thursday and will now likely switch codes to take in Royal Ascot again next month. Our ten year old was the ready winner of the Ascot Stakes on his first start for the yard in 2010 and he has the same race as his probable target this time around.
My father arrived back from his holiday in Mexico yesterday and I reckon he had quite a good time. A renowned home-bird, he did say that the weather was too hot for his liking, but I was very surprised when he didn’t complain about the food. Even so, I get the impression that he is more pleased to be home than my mother!
He was back in time to hear the surprise news of Ruby Walsh deciding to call time on his career as number one jockey to former champion trainer Paul Nicholls. Ruby sighted the pressures of travelling to and fro across the Irish Sea as his reason for focussing on his position at Willie Mullins’ in Ireland. As a family man I can understand where he is coming from, it will just be a shame that we do not get to see his sublime skill in action quite so often on these shores.
The week ahead looks likely to be a quiet one with Palace Jester and Keep The Cash representing the yard at one of our local tracks, Newton Abbot tomorrow (Tuesday). I had hoped that the recent fine weather that we have been enjoying was going to hold, although I understand that the rains are due later today and are set to stay with us for a couple of days at the very least. It is a shame as there aren’t many places I would rather be than Newton Abbot on race day on a fine, sunny summers’ afternoon.
We have a few entries later in the week at Fontwell, Wetherby, Market Rasen and Worcester although with the flat now in full-swing, we are in our quiet time of the season. Many of the horses are out enjoying their summer holidays, as you would have seen from the photographs if you have been keeping up to date with Chester’s Chat this week.
I will be attending the Brightwells Sales at Cheltenham on Wednesday and as usual I have been trawling through the catalogues at length to find the next potential superstar. It looks like a good consignment of horses, so if you are interested in purchasing a horse, do feel free to contact me for a no-obligation chat about your requirements on 01884 840715
It is the Epsom Derby this weekend and it is always a race that I enjoy watching on the television. The ante-post markets are dominated by 2,000 Guineas winner Dawn Approach and rightly so. However, it would be some performance to land the Derby over a mile and a half when you consider he had the speed to win over five furlongs at two and has yet to race beyond a mile on the racecourse. I won’t be able to see it live this year as myself and Leanne will be attending the wedding of Sale Shark and Wales rugby international, Andy Powell on Saturday. If I manage to get out of the reception alive, I will tell you all about it next week!
