Little Stars

 Purple N Gold - 2 Chase Wins This Season
The first jumping action of the week came with the two day meeting at Perth and we sent five runners on the long journey north back across the border to Scotland.  We were rewarded with the success of Street Entertainer in the claiming hurdle on Wednesday.  Street Entertainer has long been a favourite in the yard – he is one of those versatile horses that runs regularly and well, be it on the flat, over hurdles or over fences and he posted another decent performance on Wednesday conceding weight away to all of his rivals.  The sad epitaph to the race from our point of view was that he was subsequently claimed but that is one of the risks you take when you run in this type of race…we believe he is going hunter chasing and joining former Pond House inmate Locksmith and we wish his new connections the best of luck with him.

Talking of little stars, what a great performance from Purple ‘N Gold to land the handicap chase at Worcester on Friday under Tom Scudamore.   Competing in only his third chase, he posted an excellent effort to defy a mark of 129 in good style by 3¼ lengths.  Since purchasing him cheaply from an all-weather claimer as a three year old he has scored on the flat, over hurdles and over fences and has been a great, fun horse for owners Keith and Lynne Webb.  It will be interesting to see what the handicapper does with him on Tuesday but it would be no surprise to see him rated in the mid 130’s now and we are going to have to start looking at some of the bigger races with him, although he still has the option of novice contests.  He rarely runs a bad race and I would certainly like a few more like him!  He could turn out again quickly as we have entered him at Fontwell on Friday but we will take a look at the race and see how he is nearer to the time.

On the same card at Worcester, conditional jockey Brian Toomey rode in his first race for the stable aboard Still Together in the bumper.  I thought the pair of them acquitted themselves well in third and it should not be long before either are winning races.  Still Together was an Irish point-to-point winner on soft ground, so it would be no surprise to see him step up on this when presented with a stiffer test.

Flat jockey Tom Marquand is currently leading the apprentice title and he is the jockey that has ridden my last two flat winners, Impulsive American at Chepstow and Low Key in the Cesarewitch Trial at Newmarket.  I only learned something in the last few days which highlights again what a small world it is and a bit of trivia for you!  Long-time Pond House friend and owner Yvonne Reynolds (her horses include Madison Du Berlais, Grands Crus and Gevrey Chambertin all owned with friend Roger Stanley) was a big influence in Tom finding his interest in racing!  Tom’s father works for the Reynolds family and Tom used to go into her shop in Cheltenham regularly but would then sneak upstairs with Yvonne to enjoy the racing and have a few little bets together!  He is certainly now a talented young rider.  All things being well he will hopefully be on board Low Key again in the Cesarewitch itself at Newmarket on Saturday 10^th October.  Alternatif could join him in this race if getting in to.  He had a gallop at Kempton last week in preparation and is in good form.  Both horses are also entered in the Irish Cesarewitch (the following day) in case they do not get in at Newmarket.

Looking ahead to this week we ae likely to have a few runners which include Brenda De Ronceray at Southwell on Tuesday and Fishy Story in the bumper at Sedgefield also on Tuesday.  I am hoping Fishy Story can build on her debut promise when she finished second at Fontwell.  Later in the week I am likely to have a few runners at Chepstow on Wednesday plus a flat runner, Race to Glory at Salisbury.  Looking further ahead On Thursday we have entries at Bangor and Warwick and on Friday at Fontwell and Hexham.  Racing at the weekend moves onto Fontwell  again on Saturday, while on Sunday there are three meetings, Huntingdon, Kelso and Uttoxeter.  Once again, keep checking Chester’s Daily Blog for news of the stables runners throughout the week.