- Monday, 23 May 2016 15:16
- Written by David Pipe
It was good to break a frustrating run of places last week when Perspicace (pictured above) managed to get his head in front at Worcester on Thursday and notch our fourth success of the season. Meanwhile, I was kept busy with a visit to the sales at Doncaster where I was pleased to bolster our squad with the addition of several nice prospects who I hope you will be hearing plenty more of in the coming months.
As I have eluded to in recent weeks, the horses had been running consistently well without quite getting their heads in front so it was a relief to buck that trend at Worcester with Perspicace. Our five year old gelding has flattered to deceive on occasions but made no mistake in this instance running out a comfortable winner under Tom Scudamore. According to the handicapper, he was entitled to win as he is set go up 5lbs in future handicaps (owing to his good second at Towcester the week previous) although that could be more after this. The faster ground certainly proved beneficial to him and hopefully he will able to build on this success.
Meanwhile our other runners continued to perform with credit. Brook was an unlucky faller when in close contention at the same fixture, while Willem was only narrowly denied at Fakenham on Sunday on his first start over fences. I am sure there is something similar within his compass very shortly.
Moon Racer was an absentee from his intended engagement at Worcester last Wednesday, although I would like to reiterate that there is no problem with him. The forecast rain at the track never materialised and the going became good to firm on raceday. I had stated that he would only run if there were sufficient rain and sadly that did not happen as I would love to have got a run over hurdles into him for experience. He may now go on his summer break ahead of a hurdling campaign later in the year which will all be geared towards a crack at the Supreme at Cheltenham next March.
Unfortunately we could not repeat our Prix la Barka success of twelve months ago with Ballynagour, although he once again performed with credit on rain-softened ground that went against him and picked up some prize money. He could now head for the big summer chase at Uttoxeter on ground which should suit him much better. Our other runner, Gevrey Chambertin was not on one of his going days and will now have a summer holiday which will hopefully freshen him up.
Looking to this week, it is going to be a quiet start with no runners today (Monday) or tomorrow although things are likely to pick up as the week goes on with stable entries at Newton Abbot on Wednesday, including recent recruit The Two Amigos who could make his debut for the stable in the bumper. We also have entries at Bangor, Worcester, Cartmel, Ffos Las, Fontwell and Uttoxeter and running plans will once again be governed by the weather so do keep up to date with Chester’s Daily Chat. One intended runner is Starchitect who has an entry at Salsibury on the level this weekend, a race in which we also have Thunder Pass.
I was up at Doncaster last week for their Horses In Training Sales and was pleased to come back with some nice new additions to the stable. Some were bought to order, although the likeable ex-Irish point-to-pointers Court Of Milan and Awesome Tunes are both looking for owners and look to be good value purchases who are fit and ready to go and should give any potential purchaser plenty of enjoyment.
We were also busy acquiring horses from the races last week and I was fortunate enough to be the successful bidder for Castlemorris King who was the impressive winner of the claiming hurdle. He once ran in the Derby at Epsom but has found a more realistic level over hurdles, winning several times, while also running with promise on his penultimate start over fences under which code he is still a novice. He is another who is fit and ready to go and looks another good value purchase. For further information on all of the above, take a look at our horses for sale page.
Talking of racehorse ownership, I have heard from the Racehorse Owners Association who are keen to get the views of owners past and present as they try to improve the experience of racehorse ownership. A short survey can be accessed online at: http://www.telluswhatyouthink-sport.com/s/OwnersSurvey2016
Finally a couple of congratulations. David Noonan was crowned champion amateur jockey at Stratford last week which was a great achievement when you consider that he turned conditional as far back as December. To have the championship sewn up with six months to go is a real feat and I am sure he will continue his progress up the ladder in the conditional ranks.
Well done too to James Reveley who was the winner of the Grand Steeplechase de Paris at the weekend when he won France’s biggest chase aboard the Guillaume Macaire trained So French. James won the French Champion hurdle for us aboard Un Temps Pour Tout at Auteuil last season and is a very good young jockey – well done to him.
