- Monday, 14 August 2017 15:35
- Written by David Pipe
Although the core season does not really build up momentum until the beginning of October, I will be pleased to see the back of the summer break when jump racing resumes at Newton Abbot and Bangor on Wednesday. We are likely to have runners at both of those fixtures, while we have plenty of entries for the remainder of the week. With the majority of the horses back in from their summer breaks things will only continue to get busier around the yard.
In the meantime, while we all eagerly await the return of the jumps action, there have been a few charitable golf outings to keep us busy. On Friday I sent a team of four comprising of my secretary Gemma Edwards, Ken Rixon, Ashley Farrant and of course the recently married Gerry Buck Supple to play at Wincanton in their Texas Scramble event. They had a great time even though they didn’t trouble the judges…they were pleased however to win the ‘best dressed team’!
Today (Monday) I am at the Jim Old Golf Day which is now in its 27th incarnation. Jim has managed to raise and enormous amount of money for the Injured Jockeys Fund through the years via this fundraiser and we thank him for the tremendous effort he puts into organising it. It is a date I have marked in my calendar from early in the year and I always look forward to embarrassing myself on the course as a member of owner John Dale’s team…I could certainly do with a bit of leniency from the handicapper!
Anyway, it will be great to get back to the racing again come Wednesday and as I have already stated, I am likely to have runners at both Bangor and Newton Abbot when jumping resumes. Celestial Path is an intended runner in the 0-120 handicap hurdle having shown decent placed form in novices’ races. The prevailing good ground should suit this former high class flat performer. Aldrin is our other entry on the card in the maiden hurdle.
Over at Newton Abbot Skilful Lord will make his debut for the stable and his first start over timber when he contests the juvenile hurdle. He has pleased me at home and we will know more about him come Wednesday. Also entered on the card are Pond House newcomers Aero Majestic and Keating who are owned by a brand new syndicate that I have just put together called the Pond House Classics. There is one share remaining in the syndicate if anyone is interested, so please contact my office for further details. As well as Newton Abbot, Keating is also engaged at Fontwell on Thursday, Market Rasen on Saturday and Southwell on Saturday.
We will keep an eye on the weather for the fixtures later in the week. Father Edward, Chic Theatre and Keating hold entries at Fontwell on Thursday, while Juste Pour Nous, Red Square Revival, Three Star General, Celestial Path, Keating and Chic Theatre are all engaged at Market Rasen on Saturday. Kalifourchon, Keating and Celestial Path are entered at Southwell’s meeting for Sunday. As usual, for all the latest news on running plans keep up to date with Chester’s Daily Chat or follow us on Twitter @DavidPipeRacing.
