It was a great week at Punchestown and I thought that on the whole the runners from the stable all emerged with great credit. As you would expect, the racing was of the highest standard and the welcome from the locals was as usual first class. I have always found the Irish to be most accommodating and this visit was no exception. With a winner and a handful of places it was a well worthwhile (and enjoyable!) trip, although I must say that I was pleased to get home to my own bed!

Our first runners of the Punchestown Festival came on Wednesday with Ballynagour in the Punchestown Gold Cup and Champers On Ice in the concluding bumper. Ballynagour was still going nicely and in with every chance when taking an uncharacteristic fall at the fourth last fence. It was too far out to tell how the race would have unfolded, although Tom Scu was very pleased with him up until the time of his departure. I am pleased to report that he seems to be fine and is back home at Pond House – he remains in training for now and he could head next for France where the prize money is excellent and you can be assured a bit of cut in the ground.

Our other runner on Wednesday, Champers On Ice (pictured above) was making his debut for the stable in the 2m2f bumper and our five year old Irish point-to-point winner put up a most likeable performance by scoring narrowly under a great ride from Jamie Codd. He looked to beat a nice type of Dermot Weld's and with the pair drawing 28 lengths clear of the remainder; there is every reason to be optimistic that it was a very good performance. He will now have a nice summer holiday and is one to look forward to next season over timber.

On Friday Dell’ Arca was faced with the impossible task of trying to give Champion Hurdle 1-2 Faugheen and Arctic Fire a race in the Punchestown Champion Hurdle, although I thought that he ran with great credit to finish third ahead of the higher rated Tiger Roll. I am not one to blow my own trumpet, although we could see that the race was going to ‘cut-up’ and there might be the opportunity to pick up some good prize money with him. Indeed, he secured almost £14,000 in prize money for his efforts and like Balllynagour, he is another that could now head to France. He has run consistently all season without managing to get his head in front and he thoroughly deserves a nice prize.

On Saturday I thought that Stars Over The Sea performed with credit in the Champion Four Year Old Hurdle. The ground at Punchestown would have been plenty soft enough for him, although his previous effort when fourth at Aintree showed that he was among the best of the juvenile hurdlers around. I am sure there are some nice prizes to be won with him. Meanwhile, on the same card Monetaire disappointed when reverting to hurdles after his unfortunate experience over the National fences last time and he will probably go on his holidays now.

While I was at Punchestown there was the annual Goffs sale and we were the successful bidders for a good looking four year old gelding by the name of Eamon An Cnoic, who had finished runner-up in an extremely competitive Irish point-to-point. He looks the part and I am sure he will give his owners a great deal of fun.

Our only runners on the domestic front came at Newton Abbot on Thursday and Race To Glory went very close to winning the final handicap hurdle on the card. In fact, had he jumped the last cleanly the verdict may have in fact gone in his favour. Even so, this was a marked improvement on this return to a faster surface and we should be able to find something similar for him before too long.

Last week was a good one for amateur jockey David Noonan who not only enjoyed his first Cheltenham winner aboard his first ride at the course, Sam Cavallaro on Wednesday, but he was also successful on Anthony Honeyball’s Marie des Anges at Fontwell on Friday – he enjoyed his 15 minutes of fame when he briefly led the jockeys’ championship with two winners from two rides. Perhaps that should be 65 minutes of fame as he tells me that was how long he was in front! Still, very well done to him.

Talking of amateur jockeys, congratulations too to Darren Edwards who rode a double at Holnicote on Saturday and in the process landed his 200th career success. You may recall that Darren (who is brother to my secretary Gemma) was successful for the stable when he won the Kim Muir Chase at the Cheltenham Festival when he was victorious aboard Maximize in 2004. A great achievement from a very capable rider.

Looking to the week ahead, it is looking surprisingly busy on the entry front given the time of year. We have four runners at Kempton and Warwick this afternoon (Monday), while Weather Babe and Houston Dynimo are on duty for the stable at Exeter tomorrow. There are plenty of other entries for the remainder of the week, including at Haydock on Saturday where there is the prestigious Swinton Handicap Hurdle, the Long Distance Hurdle and a valuable intermediate chase on the card. We have entered the consistent Purple ‘N Gold in the Swinton along with Low Key and Rathealy. Serienschock and Alternatif are our entries in the Long Distance hurdle, while facile winner Ainsi Fideles is engaged in the Intermediate chase. As usual, for all the latest news on running plans and gossip from around the stable, do keep up to date with Chester’s Daily Chat or follow us on Twitter @DavidPipeRacing.

Finally, I would just like to take this opportunity to wish Timmy Murphy well as he begins his new career as a flat jockey this week. You may recall that Timmy partnered many high profile winners for the stable including Our Vic in the Totesport Bowl at Aintree and of course the Grand National aboard Comply Or Die. We wish him every success with his new venture.

follow me on facebook