- Monday, 08 May 2017 15:08
- Written by David Pipe
Wow! What a change about in the weather. The non-stop rain of the winter months seems an eternity ago now; indeed we have just had the second driest April since we started collating the Pond House rainfall almost 20 years ago, with just 16mm falling throughout the entire month. Whilst that is good for those that are already out enjoying their holidays, it is not so good for those that remain in training with the ground now unsuitably fast and leading to small fields on the jumps cards.
We could certainly do with a bit of the wet stuff now just to take the sting out of the ground. Many of the courses do their best to manage the going with watering, but you can’t beat what Mother Nature provides. As I say though, it is not all bad news – those who are already out to grass are enjoying soaking up the rays and are having a lovely time as the picture from Pond House Assistant Martin Ayliffe shows. The horses are very relaxed and doing extremely well after a hard winter.
With the ground quicker than ideal it was a quiet week on the runners’ front with just four representatives. Celestial Path shaped with a deal of promise in the novices’ hurdle at Warwick last Monday, finishing fourth and this former classy flat recruit should be capable of winning races over timber this summer. This is his ground so he will be kept on the go.
Three Star General met with little luck in running at Goodwood on Saturday in the 1m6f handicap. Held up off a slow pace, he had nowhere to go once the pace lifted and he stayed on past a few beaten horses without threatening. He is better than the bare result of this and is another who should be winning races this summer, be it on the flat or over hurdles.
Looking to this week and things are looking a little busier with a runner this afternoon (Monday) at Stratford while Mister Drifter, Purple ‘N Gold and Gone Too Far run tomorrow. Mister Drifter makes his hurdling debut in the maiden at Ffos Las tomorrow having shown ability in bumpers, while Purple ‘N Gold and Gone Too Far contest the handicap chase at Exeter with Tom Scudamore and Michael Heard in the saddle respectively.
High class performers La Vaticane and Gabrial The Great could well go to Newton Abbot on Wednesday, while Prospera Pascha is set to make her hurdling debut when she is an intended runner in the mares’ maiden hurdle at Worcester on Thursday. She is another with bumper form and she has proven adept at her obstacles at home.
Finally, I would just like to offer my congratulations to Aidan O’Brien and the team at Ballydoyle after their third 1,000/2,000 Guineas double at Newmarket at the weekend – an amazing performance.
As usual, for all the latest news from Pond House and the stable runners do take a look at Chester’s Daily Chat or follow us on Twitter @DavidPipeRacing.
