Big Plans

The relentless countdown towards the 2017 Cheltenham Festival continues and following trials weekend at the track, there are only six weeks remaining. There was some fascinating action, although the feature race produced drama for the racegoers and heartbreak for the connections of Many Clouds.

The week had started well for the Pond House team when Mr Big Shot (pictured above) made a very impressive start to his hurdling career when successful in the novices’ hurdle at Wetherby on Tuesday. Without wishing to string too many clichés together, he has the stamp and pedigree of a staying chaser so to win a Uttoxeter bumper and Wetherby hurdle over two miles is testament to the ability he possesses. This giant of a horse will certainly improve with experience, a step up in trip and a set of fences in front of him, but we will keep him low key this season and thoughts of the Cheltenham Festival are not on the agenda. He is very much a work in progress and will be embarking on a novices’ chase career next term – he rates an exciting prospect.

There were promising performances too from Vincent’s Forever and Ramses de Teille at Taunton on Friday with the pair of them filling the minor placings in both divisions of the novices’ hurdle. Their turns should not be far away. I would like to congratulate both the BHA and Taunton racecourse for putting this additional meeting on at late notice following the loss of several meetings owing to frost (including Taunton’s previous card). It was a good initiative, well executed and they were rewarded with some decent racing and a reasonable crowd all things considered, no doubt aided by the excellent idea of granting free admission – well done to all concerned with making this happen.

There were a number of other big races closing last week for the Cheltenham Festival as well as Haydock’s Grand National Trial. It was the turn of the novice chasers with Starchitect (pictured right) entered in the Arkle as well as the JLT, while Champers On Ice was given the option of the National Hunt Chase over four miles,the RSA and the JLT. What A Moment and Father Edward were our other entries in the four miler. The novices’ hurdles close this week and I will bring you news of our entries in my next blog.

Meanwhile, we are well represented in the Grand National Trial at Haydock on 18th February where we have Un Temps Pour Tout, Vieux Lion Rouge, Doctor Harper, La Vaticane and Abracadabra Sivola all engaged.

In the shorter term our next runners are likely to come at Hereford or Leicester on Wednesday where entries include the likes of What A Moment and the promising Celebre d’Allen, although they have a number of engagements to choose from. Starchitect is entered in the two mile handicap chase at Sandown, while Eamon An Cnoic who is on a hat-trick could line-up in the Pertemps Hurdle Qualifier at Musselburgh on Sunday. Taunton host another card on Sunday and we have several entries there including Daklondike and ex-French recruit Full. Dell’ Arca is an intended runner in the senior’s handicap hurdle that was rescued from Taunton’s abandoned meeting.

Finally, I would like to pass on my best wishes to Oliver Sherwood and his team at Rhonehurst following the very sad loss of his Hennessy Gold Cup and Grand National winner Many Clouds on Saturday following his heroic second victory in the Cotswold Chase. He showed his trademark class and determination to get the better of a titanic battle with Thistlecrack only to collapse shortly afterwards leaving the whole racing fraternity shell shocked. All of the horses in your care become a part of the family regardless of ability but to lose your stable star is a devastating blow. I thought that Oliver Sherwood was all class with the way in which he handled things on Saturday and I would like to offer him, his team, jockey Leighton Aspell and owner Trevor Hemmings my very best wishes.

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