Back Among The Winners

It was good to be back among the winners last week with the victories of Katkeau and Vieux Lion Rouge taking our seasonal tally to 36. Meanwhile several of our other weekend runners picked up some decent prize money for their placed efforts to make it a productive week all told.

It had been a quiet start to the week with a solitary runner on each of Monday and Tuesday at Leicester and Fakenham respectively and we hit the mark at the second attempt when Katkeau made a very pleasing start to his chasing career with success in the beginners’ chase under Tom Scudamore. He had it to do at the weights with the Paul Nicholls trained odds-on favourite Southfield Vic based on their hurdle form, but he jumped considerably better than his market rival and stayed on in really determined fashion to win by 1¼ lengths. He has always been a quality individual, winning a Cheltenham handicap over hurdles last term, while he also ran well to finish a close third at Auteuil afterward. He looks as though he will make up into an even better chaser and should be more than capable of winning again over the larger obstacles.

That was the last of our runners until the weekend where we had a handful of entries at Haydock for Betfair Chase day. Batavir ran an encouraging third in the Fixed Brush hurdle – a race that we had won three times in the past with Grands Crus, Dynaste and Gevrey Chambertin. He improved onto the heels of the leaders entering the straight and stayed on without having the pace to challenge the first two home. This was a step forward from Cheltenham the previous week and he can continue to be competitive in all the long distance handicap hurdles before eventually going on to be a lovely chaser.

It was a real thrill to be a part of the exciting clash for the Betfair Chase and we were doubly represented by Dynaste and Ballynagour. Dynaste performed with credit to finish third in the race for the second successive year and I would imagine that you will be seeing him in action next in the King George V Chase at Kempton Boxing Day. Ballynagour didn’t perform to his best with a number of uncharacteristic mistakes on the second circuit marring his chances - on his day he is a match for anyone and this performance can safely be ignored. They are both in the King George although a decision on their participation will not be made until nearer the time.  I would like to congratulate the Tizzard team on the success of Cue Card and managing to coax him back to his very best. Racing badly needs it stars and it was good to see the ever popular Cue Card’s star firmly back in the ascendance.

The day ended on a positive note for the Pond House team with the game success of Vieux Lion Rouge in the handicap chase. He jumped and travelled well throughout the race on this first try at three miles and though my heart was in my mouth as he took a good look at the last, he asserted his superiority on the run-in to record a four length victory. He didn’t look obviously well-treated on his handicap chase debut (he hadn’t won in three starts from this sort of mark over hurdles) but he has always had the look of a chaser and it would seem that he is going to make a better chaser. For all that he has seemed to be around for a long time, Vieux Lion Rouge is only a six year old and open to plenty more improvement. He is a likeable sort who has won nine of his fifteen starts and now that he has proven his stamina beyond doubt, it opens up a number of possibilities to him.

Looking to the week ahead Thursday marks the start of the Hennessy meeting at Newbury and as you would expect there are some lucrative prizes over the course of the three days although we will not be represented in the big one itself this season. Even so, we have some very nice horses entered up including French Champion Hurdle winner Un Temps Pour Tout has an engagement in the Grade 2 Worcester novices’ chase (a race we have won in the past with Grands Crus), while ultra-game mare Weather Babe also has an entry.

Monetaire has a couple of choices of engagements, while the same comment also applies to the extremely versatile Dell’ Arca. With entries also for the likes of Cheltenham Festival runner-up Unique de Cotte, Champers On Ice, Bidourey, Herbert Park, Balgarry, La Vaticane, Starchitect and Gabrial The Great to name but a few over the coming days it could be another exciting weekend.

Talking of excitement, I am very much looking forward to attending the Premiere of “Being AP” in London tonight. If you are not already aware, it charts the final season of the perennial champion jockey as he prepares to hang up his boots for good. For those of you who cannot get to see it, it is available to buy on DVD on 30th November and will definitely be on my list for Father Christmas!

There will be another conditional jockeys among the ranks at Pond House very soon as this season's leading amateur rider David Noonan is about to turn professional.  He has already won 19 races this term and is really carving out a name for himself.  He will continue to be excellent value for his claim which now stands at 5lbs from today.  We look forward to supporting him and wish him continued success.

While we are on the subject of future plans, unfortunately we have had to put plans on hold for Champion Bumper winner Moon Racer after he met with a setback.  He is currently on the easy-list although we are hoping to get him back later in the season for some of the big spring festivals.

Finally, I hope you are enjoying our series of interviews with the staff here at Pond House as they give you their fancies for the season ahead. Last week it was the turn of Tony “The Oracle” Lowman who pointed you in the direction of The Package before he scooted up at the Cheltenham Festival and low and behold he has only done it again with his selection Katkeau winning at Fakenham on Tuesday…I hope a few of you listened to the great man. Anyway, we will be bringing another video for your entertainment in the next day or two, so do remember to check back here.

For all other news, do keep up to date with Chester’s daily chat or follow us on Facebook (David Pipe Racehorse Trainer) or Twitter @DavidPipeRacing

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