- Monday, 22 August 2016 15:05
- Written by David Pipe
I was pleased to be among the winners again last week with the successes of Skylander and For ‘N’ Against takings us onto sixteen for the current campaign and vaulting us into top-spot in the trainers’ table at this early stage of the season. With a number of other praiseworthy performances it is good to have the team in good order and helping to build a solid foundation for the months ahead.
Skylander had hinted that a return to form was on the cards when a creditable third over course and distance at Worcester a couple of weeks earlier and he duly confirmed that opinion with a dour success in the 2m7f handicap hurdle on Wednesday. He needed every yard to peg back Listen And Learn under a determined ride from conditional jockey Michael Heard. It is good to see him back to winning ways and hopefully he shouldn’t go up to much in the weights for this narrow success. He could continue to mix hurdling with chasing in the coming weeks. Meanwhile Perspicace was not beaten at all far in third under the burden of topweight on his first try at the trip and that opens up more options for him going forward.
The good form of the stable continued on Friday when our only runner; For ‘N’ Against obliged in the staying handicap chase at Bangor. Having been raised 5lbs by the handicapper for his good second at Worcester the previous week we had to take our chance here from his original mark and I was pleased that it paid off with a slick jumping performance under a positive ride from Tom Scudamore. He has been in good order this term, winning twice and finishing runner-up on a couple of occasions. We will have to see how the handicapper reacts, although things are going to get harder still from his revised mark.
We were due to run a couple at Worcester on Sunday; multiple winning mare Twentytwo’s Taken and recent ex-French recruit, Dauphine Ereine who is a half-sister to stable star Dynaste. Sadly they were late non-runners when the sunshine dried the ground too much. You will be seeing them in action somewhere else shortly.
Earlier in the week Standing Ovation had run his best race in a little while when a close second in the 3m3½f handicap chase at Stratford on Thursday. He enjoyed his days in the sun when winning the Listed Badger Ales Chase at Wincanton in 2013 and Lord Mildmay Chase at Newton Abbot last season although he has found getting his head in front harder of late despite a declining handicap mark. Along with the owners we made the decision to call it a day with this handsome son of Presenting and he has now been retired and will hopefully enjoy a long, happy and well-deserved retirement.
Looking to the week ahead, we do not have any runners today or tomorrow with the first runners from Pond House likely to come at Stratford on Wednesday. The admirable Purple ‘N Gold is an intended runner in the 2m3f handicap chase, while new arrivals Mr Burgees and the aforementioned Dauphine Ereine feature among the entries later in the week. With the weather changeable for this time of year (what is new there?!) we will look to see what the ground is like before confirming running plans. As usual, you will be able to keep up with the latest gossip by visiting Chester’s Daily Chat or by following us on Twitter @DavidPipeRacing.
I would like to finish by offering my congratulations to Team GB for an amazing performance at the Olympic Games in Rio. Indeed, this was the most successful games in 108 years with Britain finishing second in the medals table – a truly phenomenal performance not least from our equestrian stars including the amazing Nick Skelton. Well done one and all!
