- Monday, 16 January 2017 16:26
- Written by David Pipe
It was a big week for racing with the shock news of the proposed sale of Kempton Racecourse by the Jockey Club as part of a proposed plan to reinvigorate the sport for future generations. You can read my thoughts on that a little later. While that was going on, it was a relatively quiet week for the stable with only nine runners although they performed consistently well without quite getting their heads in front.
Stay Out Of Court was unlucky to ‘bump into one’ at Taunton on Wednesday in the three mile maiden hurdle. This was his first try at the trip since finishing runner-up in an Irish point-to-point and he showed a good attitude here to stick on for second place. The winner is prominent in ante-post markets for the Festival and he would be unlucky to run into one of this ability in future contests such as this. He is a smashing staying chaser in the making but should be picking up something similar to this along the way.
Poker Play was something of a ‘talking horse’ ahead of his Pond House debut at Lingfield on Saturday. A winner in France, he was a bit keen here on his first start in this country and while he could not muster winner Fidux, he nonetheless finished well clear of the remainder under conditional jockey David Noonan. He needs to learn to settle a bit better but remains a horse with a big future.
Champers On Ice (pictured above) was another to find one too good in a very hot looking Listed chase at Warwick on Saturday. He was hard at it with some little way to go but stuck on in willing fashion to finish a creditable second to potentially high-class American. He looks sure to benefit from an even greater test in future. He will be given several entries for the Cheltenham Festival including the four miler.
Looking ahead, the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury closed last Tuesday and we have made an entry for recent ex-French acquisition Max do Brazil. A dual winner in France he has pleased me since his arrival and will be out shortly ahead of a possible tilt at the Newbury race on Saturday 11th February. There are further early closing races for the Cheltenham Festival tomorrow (Tuesday) including the Stayers Hurdle so we will let you know of any Pond House representatives in those next week.
This week is looking a good bit busier with four runners this afternoon at Ayr and Plumpton, while the lorry stays north of the border as Starchitect makes his third start over the larger obstacles on the second day of Ayr’s fixture. Recent bumper winner Mr Clarkson is due to make his hurdling debut at Exeter tomorrow, while Arkadios, Red Square Revival and Obistar are our other runners at the Devon track. We are well represented with entries at Market Rasen and Newbury on Wednesday, while Gone Too Far is an intended runner in the staying handicap chase for amateur riders at Ludlow on Thursday.
Beyond that there are some quality cards to look forward to at the weekend with Ascot and Haydock on Saturday, not to mention a card from our local track at Taunton. We are sure to have plenty of runners over the coming days and for the latest information on all runners and rides, please keep up to date with Chester’s Daily Chat or follow us on Twitter @DavidPipeRacing…hopefully there will be a winner or two among them as we approach the eight week mark ahead of the Cheltenham Festival.
Finally, plenty has been said about the proposed sale of Kempton Park racecourse and I would like to finish by saying that it in my opinion it is a sad day when any track faces closure not least a Grade One course with such fabled history as Kempton. It was a great shame when Folkestone closed its doors for the last time; the same was true when Hereford shut, although fortunately they later received a much welcomed reprieve. Obviously the Jockey Club will not be embarking on this plan lightly although it is to be hoped that they find an alternative method of funding their future regeneration plans for their estate without selling this historic and unique track.
