- Monday, 02 January 2017 12:56
- Written by David Pipe
Although unusually we only had a couple of runners on Boxing Day, the period between Boxing Day and New Year’s Day was a busy one with no less than 19 runners last week. I was pleased to see the horses continue in good form with four winners taking our seasonal tally to 44, including the success of Mr Clarkson who was a first
Rathealy started the ball rolling with success in the selling hurdle at Leicester on Wednesday. Given a positive ride, he stayed on well under a typically positive ride from conditional jockey Michael Heard. Although there was no bid at the subsequent auction, he was to leave the stable when claimed after finishing runner-up in similar company at Fakenham on Sunday. He had been a good, fun horse to have in the yard.
I thought that La Vaticane put up a very good weight carrying performance when lugging 12-2 to victory in the competitive three mile handicap chase at Doncaster on Thursday. She jumped very well and saw the trip out nicely to claim the spoils. Jumping really is her primary asset and she is sure to take a hike in the weights for this success. She has already jumped around Aintree twice before and it is not inconceivable that she will be given an entry in the Grand National itself.
It was good to get a win out of Saint John Henry at Warwick on Saturday. Still paying for a productive 2014/15 season that saw him win three times, he was still 7lbs above his last winning mark on Saturday. Appreciating the extremely testing 3m2f on soft ground, he put up a personal best performance to score in the hands of David Noonan. He is not a big horse to be carrying large weights and he too is due a hike in the weights for this.
Onto Sunday and Mr Clarkson gave our brand new syndicate “Pipe’s Prospectors” the perfect start when a narrow winner of the bumper at Exeter on New Year’s Day. We bought him from the sales specifically for the syndicate in November and he didn’t disappoint here, displaying an excellent attitude to prevail in a driving finish under David Noonan. Most of the 16 members were on hand to greet their gallant winner and the celebrations carried on in the owners’ room at the racecourse and even back at our local pub, The Blue Ball!
With Mr Clarkson finishing runner-up in an Irish point-to-point (and the winner a subsequent scorer under rules) our gelding is already looking good value for the syndicate and he looks sure to give them plenty more fun and is likely to go hurdling next. Pipe’s Prospectors was developed to bring the thrill of racehorse ownership to everyday racing enthusiasts and we have a real eclectic mix here with owners, DJ’s and digger drivers among those involved. I have been very pleased by the positive response we have had and I may well consider forming another syndicate should I receive a similar response – please email me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to register your interest.
There were further good efforts from Dell’ Arca who finished third under top-weight at Kempton on Boxing Day, an untidy jump at the last possibly the difference between victory and defeat, while Doctor Harper was denied by only a short head at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day. Mango Cap and ever popular veteran Shotavodka also produced praiseworthy performances, filling the frame at Taunton and Uttoxeter respectively.
We will have plenty of entries for the week ahead and as usual, you will be able to catch all the latest news from the stable by visiting Chester’s Daily Chat or by following us on Twitter @DavidPipeRacing.
Finally, I would just like to congratulate connections of Thistlecrack, especially our stable jockey Tom Scudamore for his sensational success in the King George Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day. His defeat of Cue Card was a performance right out of the top drawer that has had Tom eulogising and he looks sure to take plenty of beating come the Gold Cup in March – well done to them. Meanwhile, Willy Twiston-Davies produced a great ride for his father to win at Cheltenham yesterday and I am sure he will prove to be a great asset to his father.
