- Monday, 28 March 2016 11:57
- Written by David Pipe
Last week was another good one for the stable with four winners bringing our seasonal total to 74. The horses really are in excellent form at present and it is amazing the difference a bit of sunshine and better ground can make to their performance. It looks like being a quiet start to the week with (unusually) no runners on this Bank Holiday Monday, although I will be making up for it later in the week!
With Tom Scudamore on the sidelines at present following a fall at Uttoxeter on Midlands National day, it has presented a good opportunity to the other jockeys at Pond House and both Conor O’Farrell (two winners) and Michael Heard (four) have grabbed it with both hands, winning races aboard the likes of My Brother Sylvest, Epic Warrior and Closer To Home with fine rides indeed. With Scu hoping to be back in time for the start of Aintree on Thursday week there are going to be further opportunities for Michael and Conor as well as our other conditional jockeys David Noonan and Kieron Edgar. It is at times like these when it is vitally important to have a good team of ambitious, talented young jockeys and here at Pond House we are fortunate enough to have that in spades.
The week started well with a victory at our local track, Taunton when My Brother Sylvest prevailed in a thrilling finish to the handicap chase under Michael Heard. As I have alluded to already, it is amazing what bit of better ground can do – My Brother Sylvest had been plying his trade on ground softer than ideal for the baulk of the season and this was easily the most lively going he had faced in some time. Making all at a good pace, he kept finding more when challenged and held on in a driving finish for a thoroughly game success.
Not satisfied with winning on Monday, Michael Heard produced another peach of a ride to score aboard Closer To Home in the 2m3½f handicap hurdle at Exeter on Tuesday. Our four year old was a little ponderous at his hurdles and required all of his riders’ urgings to stay in touch before getting a dream run up the inside to pass most of the field in the straight. Meanwhile, Epic Warrior continued the good form of the stable with success at Warwick on Wednesday under a nice patient ride from Conor O’Farrell.
The highlight of the week was yet to come however, as Lady Of Longstone came home a ready winner of the mares’ handicap hurdle final for the Challenger Series at Haydock on Saturday. Making all and jumping with her usual zest, enthusiasm and accuracy under a well-judged ride from Michael Heard she gradually stretched further clear to score by eight lengths and record her fifth win of the season. If you had told me after she won a mares’ hurdle at Ffos Las last May from a mark of 90 that she would be winning a £30,000 handicap from a mark of 123, I would never have believed you. She has thrived on her racing and if her jumping is anything to go by, she will make a cracking chaser in time.
The Challenger Series (as well as the Veterans’ Series) has proven to be an excellent initiative from the BHA (and I am not just saying that as I have enjoyed success in both spheres!). They should be applauded for trying something different and providing lucrative opportunities for horses that otherwise may not be able to compete at the top level. The courses have been rewarded with competitive fields and exciting action and it is something I hope they feel worth continuing with.
We have no runners today (Monday) or tomorrow, although the stable has plenty of entries for the remainder of the week including at Exeter on Wednesday, Ffos Las and Bangor on Thursday, Fontwell and Newbury on Friday, while Kelso put up some very good prize money this weekend and we will have entries there also. Meanwhile stable stalwart Dynaste will be entered at Navan on Saturday for a 2m4f Grade 2 chase – as usual, for all the latest news on runners from Pond House, keep up to date with Chester’s Daily Chat.
With it being the Easter holiday my eldest two children, Jack and Sophie enjoyed a bit of the spring fun when they visited the farm of my secretary Gemma’s family on Exmoor and helped with the lambing. They had a wonderful time and particularly enjoyed bottle feeding the youngsters as you can see from the photographs below. Happy Easter!
