- Monday, 26 May 2014 17:47
- Written by David Pipe
Although a quiet week on the racing front, we still managed to secure three winners from our seven runners to take our seasonal tally to fourteen, and thus keep the momentum going with our great start to the new term. I was particularly pleased to see classy staying hurdler Top Wood (pictured above by kind permission of Matthew Wilkinson) make a seamless transition to the larger obstacles at Towcester on Monday – he enjoyed a relatively light campaign last season so will be kept on the go during the summer months and he is definitely one to keep on the right side of. With most of his stable mates now out to grass for their holidays, we will be left with a team of around 15-20 horses to run.
A little holiday could be on the cards for Ffos Las bumper winner Taj Badalandabad following his second success at the course on Saturday night. A recent recruit from the Doncaster Sales at Newbury following a good second on his only start in an Irish point-to-point, he had pleased us with his homework and I couldn’t be happier with his performances on the track. He showed distinct signs of inexperience on his debut for the yard earlier in the month, but he had clearly learned plenty for that run as he was much more professional on Saturday night under his penalty. It may not have been the most competitive of races for the track, but he could do little more than give his rivals a comprehensive beating while conceding weight away all around. He will certainly stay further than this and will be a lovely addition to our team of novice hurdlers in time.
I was delighted to see a return to form from Street Entertainer at Fontwell on Sunday as he won the 2m2½f handicap hurdle in good style under Conor O’Farrell. He has always been a quality individual who has run with credit in some of the most competitive hurdles and this drop in grade presented him with his most realistic opportunity for some time. He thrives on a lively surface and could turn out again quickly in the boys’ race at Cartmel on Wednesday. Regardless of whether he takes up that engagement or not, he is reasonably weighted on bits and pieces of his old form and is another one of our team who will be kept on the go.
Meanwhile overseas, we had a runner in France last week when Vif Argent finished third in a 2m5 1/2f five year old AQPS chase at Auteuil on Thursday. Ridden as he had been in his last couple of starts in this country by young French amateur Thomas Viel, he put up a decent performance and netted over £6,000 in the process - more than he had earned for winning and finishing second on his two previous starts combined! Our runner boarded with local trainer Richard Chotard who kindly accommodated us and pictured right, you can see a few of his string on their gallops with our amateur jockey David Noonan aboard.
We will have a few runners again this week with Leader Of The Gang making the trip to Hexham on Tuesday. It is a long way to go but it looks like being a suitable opportunity for him and there is some very good prize money up for grabs, so well done to Heham for securing such funding for a mid-week meeting.
As previously mentioned, Street Entertainer could bid to follow-up his success at Cartmel on Wednesday, while Barton Stacey and Broadway Buffalo are both intended runners at Wetherby on Thursday. Barton Stacey was a convincing winner of a novices’ handicap chase last time out at Stratford and he will attempt to expose the same handicap mark reverting to hurdles. Broadway Buffalo, winner of the valuable Long Distance Hurdle at Haydock on Swinton day is an intended runner in the beginners’ chase on the same card. Our son of Broadway Flyer has always looked to be a chaser in the making and should make an exciting recruit to the larger obstacles.
Looking further ahead we will have entries at Stratford on Saturday, while Friday and Sunday are looking likely to be blank days. As usual you can keep up to date by visiting Chester’s Daily Chat.
I spent a few enjoyable days up at the Doncaster Sales and came back with a couple of nice, new recruits; a three year old daughter of Milan and a more exposed type in Cheap As Chips, a six year old mare who has won races over hurdles and fences. She is a good looking type and can hopefully improve for the change of scenery – furthermore, it would be great if she could prove her name correct!
I would like to pass on my congratulations to former jockey Rodi Greene, who was successful for us at the Cheltenham Festival aboard Ilnamar in the 2002 Coral Cup. Rodi, who now has his own mini bus service, still keeps himself in great shape and has just finished an incredible cycle ride for Lands End to John O’Groates in aid of Cancer Research and the Injured Jockeys Fund. If you would like to donate to his fundraising efforts, you can do so by visiting the following link: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserPage.action?userUrl=LucyCharnock&pageUrl=4
Following the news last week of the sad death of Blowing Wind, I was also saddened to learn of the passing of another old Pond House stalwart in Seebald. Seebald was a cracking good horse to have around the yard, competing in most of the top races during a golden age of two mile chasers. Owned by former Liverpool and England footballers Robbie Fowler and Steve McManaman, he won no less than fifteen races (including three Grade 2’s) and also finished runner-up in an Arkle Chase and two Haldon Gold Cups. He enjoyed his retirement first of all with Tom and Lottie Scudamore before joining former staff member Jenny Martin who specialises in the retraining of former racehorses. Seebald was a lovely horse to have been associated with and he will be greatly missed.
On a happier note, I was delighted to see Frankel’s brother, Noble Mission take a successful step into Group One company with his victory in the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh yesterday afternoon (Sunday). Trained by Lady Cecil, it is marvellous that the family standard will once again be flying over Warren Place. Sincerest congratulations to all of the team.
Finally, I would like to add my support to the views of champion jockey A P McCoy in championing the cause of Dr Philip Pritchard for the role of BHA chief medical adviser. The position, which was held until earlier in the year by Michael Turner requires someone not only with a profound medical knowledge, but also a firm understanding of the sport of racing and the characters competing in the weighing room. Pritchard, a former amateur jockey and trainer meets all of these criteria and has been an influential figure in the rehabilitation of a number of the jockeys down the years. I can think of no-one more suitable for the role.
