Good To Be Back Jumping

After a blank week it is nice to get back to the real business of having some runners on the track.  Although we don’t get going over the sticks again until tomorrow we nonetheless have a runner this evening (Monday) on the level at Windsor where Purple ‘N Gold runs in the 1m2f flat handicap under James Doyle - he has proven to be a shrewd purchase by owner Keith Webb having already scored on the level and over hurdles.

I have already expressed my thoughts about the stop-start nature of summer jumps calendar (we have another blank week to look forward to next month with the exception of one late additional jumps card) so I won’t bore you with them again, needless to say it is good to be saddling some runners over the sticks.  We have two runners, Basil Fawlty and Royal Peak at Stratford tomorrow.  Basil Fawlty takes in the 2m7f handicap chase at 6.20pm, while Royal Peak (a facile winner over course and distance last time) bids to follow-up in the 7.20pm – Tom Scudamore will ride the pair.  Don’t forget that Royal Peak is currently for sale for £10,000 (or four quarter shares at £2,500 each) – that could look like a real steal come Wednesday morning.

Later on this week we have a couple of entries at Fontwell on Thursday (Bathwick Man and Keep The Cash) as well as Street Entertainer who could take in the staying handicap on the flat at Beverley, while this morning we made several engagements for the weekend at Market Rasen, Perth and Southwell including the likes of recent winners Beyond and High Ville.  As usual for all the latest news on runners from the stable, you can visit Chester’s Daily Chat.

I had an abortive trip to the Doncaster Sales last week.  They had a nice catalogue of horses on offer but some of the lots were reaching exorbitant sums.   I am always keen to add to the strength of our squad here at Pond House, but one of the things that we pride ourselves on is the ability to find the right horse for our owners for the right money and I don’t believe in spending a fortune for the sake of it, hence on this occasion I returned empty handed.  However, there are a number of other sales just around the corner and with them come plenty of opportunities to pick up the next potential jumping star.

Today I have participated in a thoroughly enjoyable, if not entirely successful round of golf at the Marlborough golf course in aid of the Injured Jockeys’ Fund.  You have to feel sorry for poor John Dale (part owner of Notus de la Tour), who invited me to be a member of his team along with former champion point-to-point jockey Ashley Farrant who is back helping out around the yard.  I know I’m not exactly Tiger Woods, but I could see it was going to be a struggle when we practised earlier the week and Ashley managed to lose six balls on our local nine hole course at Tiverton!  As usual Jim Old was the man to organise this terrific annual event that sees many recognisable racing personalities don their golfing attire to support this excellent cause.

Finally, my head lad Eddie Buckley brought an interesting upcoming event to my attention last week when he showed me an advertisement (pictured right) from the Facebook page of the local hunt, Taunton Vale Harriers.  They are hosting an evening of pig and donkey racing on Friday 30^th August, but the bit that really caught the eye was that it is being held in Nicholashayne and shares the same postcode as Pond House!  I will leave you to draw your own conclusions...I can assure you that it is not taking place here, but nonetheless it sounds like an entertaining evening and proceeds are to go to the excellent Devon Air Ambulance.

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