- Tuesday, 02 June 2015 07:37
- Written by David Pipe
I have just returned from a very enjoyable trip away in France with my partner Leanne and the kids along with my parents, Chester, Jane, Simon, Susie, George and Angie. We spent our time in Ile de Re, a small island off the west coast of France near La Rochelle – it really was idyllic. With a trip to Auteuil only a fortnight ago (for the Prix la Barka) and another on the cards this coming weekend for the French Champion Hurdle, not to mention the Arqana sales at the beginning of July, I will have spent almost as much time in France as I have done at home!
While we were away we paid a visit to a beautiful racing stable near Royan where we were kindly hosted by top French jumps trainer Guillame Macaire. Monsieur Macaire lodged a horse with us many years ago when he had a runner in this country and it was fascinating to see how he approaches the fitness and wellbeing of the horses in his care. We are very grateful to him for his kind hospitality.
It was my father’s 70th birthday during our holiday and far from going easy on the old boy, I was delighted to inflict a beating on him and Chester Barnes on the ping pong table – no small achievement when you consider that former five times British champion Chester normally uses a frying pan to take on his challengers! He will have it that alcohol played its part in his defeat and he did go on to win the match over the course of the week, but I will take this victory no matter how small!
Even though I was not at the races to see them, I still kept in touch with all of my runners last week and have already watched all the replays. I thought that Alternatif put up a respectable first effort in chases when a narrow runner-up at Cartmel on Wednesday. Although an odds-on shot on the strength of his excellent second in the Long Distance Hurdle at Haydock on Saturday, he was beaten by a horse in River Maigue who was rated 4lbs superior over hurdles. Alternatif jumped and travelled like the best horse for much of the race and I am sure he will be winning over fences before too long.
Another novice making his debut over the larger obstacles was Rathlin Rose who made short work of his two rivals at Wetherby on Thursday. Although the principal danger had something of an off-day, our former winning Irish pointer jumped well in the main and looks the type to make up into a very smart staying chaser.
Of our other runners, I was delighted by the performance of Weather Babe who finished second in the 3m3f handicap hurdle at Stratford on Saturday under Conor O’Farrell. She saw the trip out very well and would have been very close but for a last flight error. She had gone up 8lbs for a recent win at Exeter and so this represented further improvement from top weight and a mark of 133. She is a lovely, honest homebred mare and will make a cracking broodmare one day for her ever enthusiastic owner/breeders Wayne and Sarah Clifford.
It looks like being a very quiet week on the domestic front with no runners from the stable today or tomorrow although we do have a few entries later in the week at Ffos Las on Wednesday and Thursday and Market Rasen on Friday, while we have plenty of prospective runners over the weekend including the likes of exciting novice chaser Vieux Lion Rouge.
As far as we are concerned however, the main meeting of the week is at Auteuil on Sunday which features the French Champion Hurdle. As I am sure you are aware by now, we intend to run Prix la Barka winner Ballynagour in the big race, while he will be accompanied by Aintree third Un Temps Pour Tout – Tom Scudamore certainly faces a difficult decision about which one to ride!
The pair of them could well be accompanied by Dell’ Arca and Katkeau who also have engagements in the handicap hurdle on the card. There should be no recurrence of the issues Katkeau faced last time, although Dell’ Arca could still face elimination owing to the fact he has been racing in this country. Dell’ Arca was a ready winner of his novice chase at Uttoxeter recently, while Katkeau ran an excellent third at Auteuil the weekend before last. They are not certain runners at this stage, although as usual you can keep up to date with all the stable runners by visiting Chester’s daily chat.
Finally I would like to spare a thought for Gerry Supple’s fiancée Jo Buck who took a horrible fall at Bratton Down on Sunday. Jo took a good kicking from her mount and was knocked out in the incident, although scans have revealed that fortunately she has suffered no broken bones. She will likely be kept in hospital for another day or two but I am pleased to report that she should make a full recovery.
