- Monday, 25 January 2016 15:57
- Written by David Pipe
Last week was certainly an exciting one for the Pond House team! Not only did it provide us with our 50th winner of the campaign when Pilgrims Bay (pictured above) landed a thriller at Wincanton, but we also bolstered our numbers with the arrival of our third child, Martha Charlotte Pipe who was born on Friday 22nd January.
Once again the weather has been playing havoc with the fixtures list leaving some courses frozen and others submerged in rainwater while those who did manage to go ahead were extremely testing. It was unsurprising therefore that our first runners of the week did not come until Wincanton on Thursday.
Pilgrims Bay certainly made it worth the wait with his success in the 2m5½f handicap hurdle…although he did make us sweat! He has always possessed plenty of ability but he also has his share of quirks as he ably demonstrated on his rules debut for us in a bumper last season when almost grinding to a halt not once but twice in the straight at Ffos Las before finishing a close third. With that in mind he was given a very cool ride by Conor O’Farrell who produced him travelling strongly at the second last and held on to him as long as possible despite the runner-up bridging the gap in the closing stages. Hopefully with this success under his belt he will be able to build on this – he certainly has the latent ability to rate more highly.
Looking to the week ahead, we will have two runners tomorrow at Leicester in Bladoun and Doctor Harper. Doctor Harper pleased me with his second to the highly regarded Garde la Victoire at Ludlow last time out on only his second outing over the larger obstacles. Ideally he would probably prefer slightly better ground but this looks like a nice stepping stone for him.
We have a number of entries through the remainder of the week although the big fixture is undoubtedly at Cheltenham on Saturday. There we have Un Temps Pour Tout and Katkeau entered in the valuable stayers’ novices’ handicap chase where the former could bump into Newbury conqueror Native River, who by some handicapping anomaly would actually meet us on better terms. Champers On Ice completes our trio of entries on the card in the 2m4½f Grade Two novices’ hurdle. This will represent another step up in company although he has done nothing but improve and would be worthy of his place in the line-up.
What a fantastic achievement from Richard Johnson who rode his 3,000th career winner at Ascot on Saturday. When you consider former champions such as Richard Dunwoody and Peter Scudamore rode 1699 and 1678 winners respectively, it puts into perspective the enormity of this feat. Unfortunately for him he has perhaps been denied some of the recognition that his talent deserves as for the last twenty years he has been overshadowed by the incomparable A P McCoy. Many congratulations to him on an incredible achievement.
While we are talking jockeys, I am pleased to report that conditional jockey Michael Heard, who has been on the sidelines since sustaining a back injury in a nasty fall at Cheltenham in November is back in good form and hoping to be back riding out at Pond House next week. Michael has dropped in from time to time during his absence and I know he has been itching to get back in the saddle. He has spent some time at the wonderful Oaksey House as part of his recuperation. It will certainly be good to see him back in the yard.
Finally another piece of good news…Leanne and I are delighted to inform readers of the birth of our third child, Martha Charlotte Pipe who was born in the early hours of Friday 22nd January 2016. Weighing in at a healthy 8lbs 8oz, I am pleased to report that both mum and baby are doing well and Jack and Sophie are tickled pink at having a little sister, while the grandparents are already smitten! Thank you to everybody who has taken the time to send their congratulations and well wishes either through the post or on social media.
Don’t forget to keep up to date with the remainder of the news and gossip at Pond House by reading Chester’s Daily Chat or following us on Twitter @DavidPipeRacing.
