Merry Christmas!

With no runners at Bangor today and no fixtures Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday that is us finished now until Boxing Day. Even so, there is plenty to be done in the lead-up to Friday – the horses still need to be fed, groomed and exercised, while the entries for all the big Christmas/New Year fixtures still need to be made. We will have a few dedicated individuals in on Christmas Day and their assistance at this time of year is as always very much appreciated.

As 2014 draws to a close I am pleased to report that the horses continue in good form and a further three winners last week took our seasonal tally to 69 – our best ever for this time of year. Our first runners of the week came at Newbury on Wednesday and Gevrey Chambertin certainly didn’t disappoint in the novices’ handicap chase. ‘Geoffrey’ was a high class hurdler with the look and physique of an exciting chaser in the making, although things hadn’t gone quite to plan for him since switching to the larger obstacles despite recording a chase success at Bangor. A change of headgear (with blinkers replacing cheekpieces) and a change of tactics brought about the sort of performance I always believed him to be capable of. Taking advantage of a handicap mark some 18lbs lower than his best over timber, Gevrey Chambertin was given a good, positive front-running ride from Tom Scudamore and jumping more boldly than previously he kept responding when challenged in the straight. Although it will be tougher under a revised mark, hopefully with this success under his belt he will increase in confidence and progress as first anticipated.

Later in the day we unleashed Vayland for his first run from the stable in the novices’ hurdle. A Hexham bumper winner, he was pitched in against some useful types on his debut over timber. Still travelling well turning in, he was just behind the leaders when coming to grief three out – Tom Scu was still feeling confident at the time of departure and while it is impossible to know what would have unfolded, hopefully he is a horse with a future. He was stiff and sore after the race but should be fine with time and is a lovely horse to have in the yard.

Onto Friday and while Tom Scu was on duty for us at Uttoxeter, it was down to champion jockey A P McCoy to do the steering aboard the stable’s impressive Ascot handicap hurdle winner Batavir. The two ‘grab bags’ of Walkers from Membury services the night before (you were spotted AP!) obviously made little difference to the result as Batavir won in the style of an improving young horse. The step-up in trip to 2m6f looked ideal for him and with the handicapper likely to have his say with a big hike in the weights tomorrow (Tuesday)he will probably run somewhere under a penalty on Boxing Day (where he has four entries) – wherever he turns up, he should take plenty of beating.

Our third and final winner of the week came at Haydock on Saturday in the Tommy Whittle handicap chase courtesy of Broadway Buffalo. Under a supremely confident ride from Conor O’Farrell, he jumped beautifully and made effortless progress to take up the running at the last and win with the minimum of fuss. He didn’t have a hard race and is another who could be turned out again under a penalty.

Looking to this week and as I eluded to earlier, there is no action now until Boxing Day…but what an exciting few days we have in store! I will be going to Kempton on Boxing Day where Dynaste will be bidding for glory in the King George VI Chase. He has pleased me at home and improved since his seasonal debut at Haydock – of course, he will need to granted the high class nature of the field which includes old foes Silviniaco Conti and Cue Card as well as the likes of Champagne Fever and Al Ferof.

Unsurprisingly, it looks like being a busy old day for the stable – we currently have entries at six of the meetings on Boxing Day and while this will inevitably get whittled down a bit as we try to find the best possible opportunities for each individual, there is still every chance that we will be represented at multiple meetings and working out the transport logistics is an achievement in itself.

Saturday promises to be another busy day with entries at Chepstow, Kempton and Wetherby. Amigo has made the cut for the Welsh National at Chepstow and he is an intended runner there. He finished seventh in last season’s renewal, running a good race until tiring in the closing stages – he is a year older now and races as though he appreciates more of a test of stamina these days. He put up a respectable effort over the course when runner up in the Welsh National Trial and could go well come Saturday.

Anyway, for all the latest running plans you will be able to keep up to date with Chester’s Daily Chat – we will be reporting every day over the Christmas period, or alternatively you can follow us on Twitter @DavidPipeRacing

Onto the latest installment of our staff interviews with legendary broadcaster Mike Vince.  You may recall that 12 months ago Mike spoke with Zoe Martin about a horse to follow for the season and she flagged up brilliant 33/1 Arkle Chase winner Western Warhorse.  This year he spoke with her again to see if she could repeat the dose...

Zoe Martin Horse To Follow 2014/15

Finally, it just remains to wish all of our readers a very Merry Christmas. Thank you for taking an interest in the stable during the past twelve months – I hope you have enjoyed it as much as we have and I hope you will continue to enjoy following the fortunes of the stable long into the future.