Hotting Up!

Despite the heavy downpours, we were able to finish the week on a high with a couple of nice winners in the staying handicap chases on Sunday at Wincanton.  Standing Ovation continued his recent run of good form by taking the Desert Orchid Handicap Chase over the marathon trip of 3m3½f, while Franklin Roosevelt returned from his summer break to record a personal best in landing the 3m1½f handicap chase later on the same card.

Standing Ovation has proven to be something of a revelation since his hard fought Exeter success three weeks ago.  Since then he has successfully stepped up in trip at Wincanton and yesterday he continued that improvement with an accomplished round of jumping under Conor O’Farrell.  I was of the opinion that he wanted genuinely good ground and the rainfall did have me a little concerned, although the times would suggest that the ground was nowhere as soft as feared.  We will look for more races for him over the next few days, or alternatively he could go to Cheltenham for their Open meeting next month.

Franklin Roosevelt has steadily been building up a progressive profile since switching his attention to long distance handicap chases and his Wincanton success was his fourth win from his last five starts.  He won with a bit in hand and appears to be still improving and is another that could be turned out again in the near future under a penalty.

I had been very generously invited by Channel 4 to join them as their guest at Wembley on Sunday for the American Football match between the San Francisco 49ers and the Jacksonville Jaguars, but owing to my Wincanton runners I was sadly unable to attend.  James, who works in the office at Pond House and just so happens to be a mad keen NFL fan attended in my place and tells me that while the match wasn’t terribly close, I missed an incredible experience.  As you can see from the picture (right), they make a real spectacle of the event - I was disappointed not to be able to make it, but our two winners certainly helped ease things!  Sincerest thanks to Jamie Aitchison for the kind invitation.

It looks like being an exciting week with loads of entries including some of the big names from Pond House.  We do not have any runners tomorrow, although we have plenty of entries at Carlisle on Wednesday including Azza, Famousandfearless and The Liquidator while Tanerko Emery and Ainsi Fideles are notable entries at Wetherby on Friday.

Last season’s flag bearer at Pond House, Dynaste who won four of his five starts in novices’ chases during the 2012/13 campaign including the Mildmay at Aintree’s Grand National meeting is an intended runner at Wetherby on Saturday.  He will likely make his seasonal debut over hurdles in the West Yorkshire Hurdle.  It looks an ideal sort of race for him to kick off the new season and I would imagine that Tom Scudamore will be itching to get back on him.

Meanwhile, another of our star grey’s, Grands Crus will not run on Saturday, but instead probably wait for the Pertemps Handicap Hurdle Qualifier at Kempton next Monday.  He is in good order at home and I am looking forward to seeing him back on the racecourse.

Finally, in the latest instalment of our stable staff interviews, I bring you none other than the assistant trainer, my father Martin Pipe CBE.  Mike Vince caught up with him a few weeks back now (before all the rains began) and asked for a horse to follow from the yard for the season ahead.  I will let you in on a little secret…he has plumped for the same horse as renowned tipster extraordinaire, Chester Barnes, whose interview coincidentally will be appearing on Chester’s Chat.  I am not sure whether that is a good thing or a bad thing – I just hope that they are right!

Martin Pipe Horse To Follow 2013/14

Anyway for all the latest news from around the yard, including the stable runners, don’t forget to take a look at Chester’s Daily Chat or follow us on Twitter @DavidPipeRacing.