- Tuesday, 06 May 2014 07:10
- Written by David Pipe
I arrived home from my second stint at Punchestown late on Saturday night and in need of a rest! If there is one thing the Irish know about more than their racing, it is how to entertain. As always, we were very well received by the good people at Punchestown racecourse, as well as the locals and I would like to thank them all for the hospitality afforded to us and look forward to returning next year. Although we did not register any successes at the meeting, we reached the frame a number of times and the horses in general ran extremely well.
I was very pleased with the performance of Ballynagour who finished an excellent second to Sizing Europe in the Boylesports Champion Chase on Tuesday. He has a well documented history of bleeding problems which has meant that he can appear inconsistent, so to win at Cheltenham and finish in the frame in Grade One races at Aintree and Punchestown in a relatively short period of time is a feat I am very proud of. He would have been better suited by a stronger gallop at Punchestown, but this run shows that he can be competitive at the highest level at distances from 2-2½ miles and I could even be tempted to try him over three miles in the coming season. He has gone home now for a well deserved summer break, but I cannot wait to have him back next term as he is certainly one to look forward to.
A similar comment applies to Un Temps Pour Tout who finished third in the 2m4f handicap hurdle on Saturday. He had had a far from ideal preparation for this race as Cheltenham was his original target. Unfortunately he went lame just days before that intended engagement and was not ready in time for Aintree so we decided to go to Ireland instead. Although fit enough to do himself justice, I believe there is further improvement in him, particularly when returned to a softer surface. To finish a creditable third (only narrowly denied second) under top weight and a rating of 150 certainly bodes well for the future.
The Liquidator also performed creditably at Punchestown, finishing fourth behind impressive winner Faugheen in the Champion Novice Hurdle. He looks as though he will appreciate a greater test of stamina and could have a nice handicap in him at around 2½ miles.
Over on these shores I was delighted to get off the mark for the new season when Vif Argent (pictured above) won at Ffos Las on Thursday under French amateur jockey Thomas Viel. Thomas has been with the stable for a few months on an internship and will be going back to France shortly to rejoin his father, trainer Laurent Viel who was the previous handler of Dell’Arca. I thought that Thomas gave Vif Argent a very sensible ride in a slowly run race, making a decisive move in the back straight to soon have his rivals in trouble. Although not the most predictable of horses, I was a little surprised at the starting price of 16/1 - generous considering he had won from that mark over fences at Wincanton only three runs previous.
The remainder of the week is looking fairly busy for early May with fixtures at Exeter (where we run Lola Galli, Makadamia, Dan Breen and Courtlands Prince) and Newton Abbot, not to mention the weekend meeting at Haydock. The fixture at Haydock used to be one of the end of season highlights but it still features the Swinton Hurdle and Long Distance hurdle for which we have entered Swing Bowler and Broadway Buffalo respectively. Swing Bowler has been running well in the big handicaps all season and deserves a nice prize to come her way, while Broadway Buffalo shaped as if this three mile trip was right up his street when beaten only six lengths in the Pertemps Final at the Cheltenham Festival. A repeat of that sort of form would give him a chance from a 2lbs lower mark.
Finally, I would like to pass on my congratulations to Richard Hannon Jnr on training a Classic winner in his first season with a licence. Night of Thunder produced something of a shocker when turning Greenham form around with hot favourite Kingman in the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket on Saturday under Kieren Fallon. Well done to Richard and the whole team at Herridge and Everleigh – a fantastic achievement.
As usual you will be able to catch up with all the news on our stable runners by checking Chester’s daily chat or by following us on Twitter @DavidPipeRacing.
