Eamon Wins Again!

Just as I have finished writing this it is great to get a winner at Plumpton this afternoon with Eamon An Cnoic!  This was his second win over fences this season and he bounced back from a below par effort last time.  Tom Scu gave him a nice confident ride and he was giving twelve pounds to the runner up so it is a good performance.  He will be better on a more galloping track and I hope there is a bit more to come from our seven year old over the larger obstacles. 

The horses have been running well in the last few days but a little frustratingly we have not quite managed to get more of their heads in front.  I was pleased with the comeback and stable debut of King’s Socks to finish third at Kempton on Friday. I had been keen to get a run into him before Cheltenham next month since he missed all of last season with a tendon injury. It was the case of job done as he travelled and jumped well before getting a little tired from the second last. The good news is he has come out of the race well and we now have four weeks to get him prepared for one of the handicaps at the Festival. He is versatile with regards to hurdles/fences and what trip he may tackle.  He has plenty of speed but does stay well so he will have a few entries and we will decide which race he goes for much closer to the time.

Moon Racer made his somewhat belated seasonal reappearance in the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury on Saturday. It is well documented that he is a fragile horse and after colic surgery last summer it really has been a good team effort from everyone at home to even get him back on the racecourse. The ground was plenty soft enough and he never really threatened to get involved with the leaders but I was happy enough with his run. He was just starting to creep into things at the third last before Tom said he went for his girth’s but then ran on again from approaching the last to finish 11th. The best news is that he is also fine after this effort and away we have a month to get him ready for one of the handicap hurdles at Cheltenham. He still shows all his sparkle at home and I am sure there is plenty more to come from him on some better ground in the spring.

Ramses de Teille ran okay behind a useful rival in the Graduation chase at Exeter on Sunday. He was no match for the highly regarded winner of Colin Tizzard’s but they see him as a possible Gold Cup contender of the future so there was no disgrace being beaten by him. A Festival handicap over fences could be on the agenda for Ramses next month.  Just Midas made a pleasing debut in the bumper at Exeter to finish a close fourth. He is bred to stay and I liked his attitude as he stuck to his task gamely despite being a bit green and getting a little tired towards the end. There is still a 50% share for sale available in him should anybody be interested!! Poker Play returned to form and I was pleased with his effort to finish third. This qualifies him for the Pertemps Final at Cheltenham although he will probably not be rated high enough to get in this. Max Do Brazil ran his best race since coming over from France to finish third at Uttoxeter on Saturday. Hopefully he can build on this next time.

Looking ahead to this week....Celestial Path returns on the flat at Lingfield on Wednesday.  There are only five runners but it looks a very competitive conditions race.  We have booked Luke Morris to ride as he knows the horse well having ridden him when previously trained by Sir Mark Prescott.  Also on Wednesday Know the Score is likely to make his yard debut in the bumper at Towcester.  He is an Irish point to point winner who stays well and the track should suit.  Rathlin Rose is looking to repeat his success of 12 months ago in the Royal Artillary Gold Cup at Sandown on Friday.  He will again be partnered by Captain Guy Disney who won on him last year.  The horse ran a great race in the Coral Welsh National and although he pulled up at Wincanton last time that probably came too soon after Chepstow.  He is in good form at home and it would be fantastic if he could run well again. On Saturday Vieux Lion Rouge will either attempt to win the Grand National Trial at Haydock for the second year in a row or he will head to Ascot in the 3 mile handicap chase. He did not quite run to form last time out in the Becher chase in December but we have freshened him up since then and he is in good form at home ahead of the weekend.  We will take a look at both races and decide a bit later in the week.  Daklondike also holds an entry at Haydock in the Grand National trial but he is also in the Eider at Newcastle and he will go for one of these races.  For further news of our runners throughout the week please keep an eye on Chester’s daily blog. 

I am off to the revealing of the Grand National weights in London tomorrow (Tues 13th). It’s in the evening for the first time and although I don’t think there will be any great surprises with the weights it should be a good evening.

On Thursday I am off to the sales at Cheltenham. There is a good catalogue as always and if anyone is interested in finding out more details or interested in becoming an owner at Pond House please do not hesitate to get in the touch.