- Monday, 21 October 2013 15:52
- Written by David Pipe
With the jumps season beginning to get serious I am pleased to report that the horses are in good form - a sentiment that is backed up by a couple of nice winners during the course of the week. Indeed, Standing Ovation followed-up his Exeter success with a ready victory at Wincanton’s first meeting of the season under another well-judged ride from Conor O’Farrell.
Fitted with first time cheekpieces Standing Ovation travelled much more kindly through his race and managed to get into a nice rhythm in front with his jumping. Although it looked quite hard work for much of the straight as the runner-up continually harried him, I am of the opinion that he was idling in front and doing no more than necessary. It was a pleasing performance on a track very different to the galloping expanses of Exeter. Already due a hike in the weights for his first success, I am sure that he will be going up again, but he should continue to flourish in these staying handicaps as long as the ground is on the lively side. He has plenty of entries over the coming week at Worcester on Wednesday, as well as Ludlow and Carlisle on Thursday and Wincanton on Sunday although he wouldn’t want too much more rain.
While we are on the subject of Wincanton, to commemorate the beginning of their season a few local trainers paraded some of their notable inmates for the coming season. These parades are always well received by the Racegoers and on this occasion we took along Grade One winning chaser Grands Crus and progressive, high class handicapper Tanerko Emery. All of the horses in the parade looked very well, but you couldn’t help but be taken by the sight of Grands Crus’ old nemesis Big Buck’s in the line-up – he will surely be difficult to beat in the staying hurdles division when he returns to the track later in the season.
It was great to be back at the home of National Hunt racing when Cheltenham’s first fixture of the season also got underway last week. Although we had no runners on the Friday, we had a few on Saturday and I was delighted to hit the mark with Kings Palace (pictured above) in the staying novices’ hurdle. Always prominent under Tom Scudamore he quickened up in good style turning for home to score by a very impressive eighteen lengths from Creepy and Monbeg Dude. I have always liked this son of King’s Theatre and he has clearly progressed from his bumper form of last term, and indeed his seasonal debut. With only five starts to date, he should continue to improve and is one of a host of young horses that we have to look forward to this season.
On the same card I thought that Vazaro Delafayette made a pleasing debut under rules when third in the closing bumper. A winner of a 2m4f point-to-point at Larkhill on his only other outing, he didn’t get the easiest of passages in the straight, but stuck to his task well nonetheless. This looked like a really strong contest and I am sure there will be plenty of winners to come out of the race, of which I hope ours is one!
It was good to welcome back an old (young) face to the yard last week as Tom Bellamy returned from a long absence due to injury. Tom, who broke his left leg in a horrible fall from one of Colin Tizzard’s horses at Taunton last April joined us on Friday having ridden out for a couple of days for Cotswolds trainer Kim Bailey. Still very much the joker, Tom looks like he has been working hard on his fitness during his injury and I am sure he will be itching to return to race riding before too long.
From one Tom to another as we talk to stable jockey Tom Scudamore in the latest in our series of video interviews with members of the Pond House staff. Unfortunately Tom Scudamore wasn’t present when broadcasting legend Mike Vince paid us a visit recently, so we have had to conduct the interview ‘in-house’ – the line of questioning isn’t up to Mike’s standard, but I hope you get the gist! The same comments apply to the interview with another of our Pond House jockey’s Conor O’Farrell, whose interview features on Chester’s Daily Chat this week.
Tom Scudamore Horse To Follow 2013/14
Looking to the week ahead, we do not have any runners tomorrow (Tuesday), although we have plenty of entries for the remainder of the week, including some very exciting names. We have made several entries at Carlisle on Thursday, while on Friday exciting ex-French filly Azza holds an engagement at Fakenham. A winner of her only start over hurdles, she has pleased us with her work and attitude since arriving at Pond House and is one to look forward to. On Saturday at Chepstow we have made entries for Broadway Buffalo who won five races for us last term and also Notus de la Tour who has endured some bad luck since finishing placed in Grade One company over fences as a novice chaser, while Shotavodka and Doctor Harper are exciting hurdles entries at Aintree on the same day. French import Ainsi Fideles and promising Pleasant Company are both entered at Aintree on Sunday, while Grade One winning bumper performer The Liquidator has been pencilled in over hurdles at Wincanton.
Finally, I was pleased to receive some largely positive feedback about my website in yesterday’s Surf ‘n Turf column of the Racing Post, although was a little disappointed by the perhaps overly pernickety criticism that the link at the top of the website doesn’t lead anywhere. Having found my website, I am somewhat perplexed why Mr Gibson would be clicking on my name at the top of the page…anyway; I will have it resolved shortly!
Don’t forget that tomorrow is my turn to feature in the Racing Post’s stable tour so make sure to pick up your copy!
For all other news from the yard, as usual you can visit Chester’s Chat or follow us on Twitter @DavidPipeRacing
