- Monday, 02 November 2015 16:56
- Written by David Pipe
The National Hunt season ramped up another gear at the weekend with the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby, while there was an excellent jumps card from Ascot. Consequently, some of the bigger names from Pond House were on display and there were a number of very promising performances looking to the season ahead.
It was a quiet start to the week as the stable didn’t have any runners until Friday at Uttoxeter. Lady Of Longstone represented the yard there in her bid to land a quick-fire hat-trick under Michael Heard. Sadly she was unable to reproduce her excellent recent form on this rain-softened ground and she was wisely pulled-up before the race unfolded in earnest. There will clearly be other days for her, although she will most definitely require a sounder surface. Things will be tougher from her new handicap mark, although there will also be the option of fences for her in due course as well.
Onto Saturday and we unleashed a couple of the ‘big guns’ in the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby. On this occasion neither Dynaste nor Ballynagour could cope with a resurgent Cue Card (for whom a wind operation has clearly done the world of good), but they both ran sound races to finish second and third respectively with little to choose between them and eleven lengths back to the fourth, Sam Winner. They will both be given an entry in tomorrow’s early closing races, the Betfair Chase at Haydock and the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day. They could well be joined at this stage by ante-post Paddy Power favourite Kings Palace.
Of our other runners at the weekend, both Unanimité (Listed handicap hurdle at Ascot on Saturday) and Shotavodka (handicap hurdle at Carlisle on Sunday) ran gallant races to finish narrow runners-up. Similarly both made costly last flight errors which may have meant the difference between victory and defeat. Nonetheless, they picked up some valuable prize money and demonstrated their current wellbeing. Hopefully we will be able to find something similar for them to make amends shortly.
It was good to see stable jockey Tom Scudamore around the yard last week as he continues his recuperation from the knee injury he sustained at Huntingdon last month. He is still hopeful to be back prior to the start of the Paddy Power meeting at Cheltenham on Friday week, so we will be keeping our fingers firmly crossed that he makes it. He took the time to conduct an interview for our website with his hopes for the season ahead and some horses he is particularly looking forward to getting aboard in the coming campaign. You can see it below…
The stable has had a couple of runners this afternoon (Monday) with Low Key and Houston Dynimo running at Kempton, while our next racecourse representatives could come at Chepstow on Wednesday following the defection of Champers On Ice at Exeter tomorrow. We have plenty of entries at the Welsh track as well as a number of engagements at Towcester and Market Rasen on Thursday and Fontwell on Friday. Meanwhile we have entries for the likes of Balgarry, Iniciar, Bird d’Estruval, Brook and Kalifourchon over the weekend. Although showing some very decent form Balgarry never scaled the heights that looked likely over timber, although he will shortly have the opportunity to try his hand over the larger obstacles. He has schooled well at home and could make his chasing debut at Sandown on Sunday.
We could be in for another French foray this weekend with Broadway Buffalo (pictured right) an intended runner in a Grade One hurdle over three miles at Auteuil on Saturday. Subject to last minute tests he will travel across to France on Wednesday evening prior to his race. He will be partnered by Katie Walsh who was aboard him when he ran such a great race to finish a close second in the four mile chase for amateur riders at the Cheltenham Festival in March. It is a tough task with a number of top class performers in opposition but he is in good order and will certainly appreciate the underfoot conditions.
As always, you can keep up to date with all the news of our runners by reading Chester’s Daily Chat or by following me on Twitter @DavidPipeRacing.
