- Monday, 20 August 2018 14:35
- Written by David Pipe
It was a good week for the yard with the stable enjoying a couple of winners from just four runners, which is considerably more success than we enjoyed on the golf course when playing in the Jim Old charity golf day at Marlborough last Monday! With a visit to the yard from the South West Hereford Association on Sunday, it has certainly been a varied few days.
Dell Delivers
I was certainly pleased to be back from the jumpers summer break with a winner at Newton Abbot on Wednesday. Delirant, who competes in the famous green and gold colours of J P McManus has been a high-profile recruit to the yard since arriving from France the winner of a Grade 1 bumper. He hasn’t been the easiest to train but connections have been very patient with him and he began to reward that patience with a ready success in the 2m2½f maiden hurdle. He was well on top in the closing stages despite idling and showing distinct signs of greenness with Tom Scudamore just having to shake him up to secure the victory. He still needs to learn to settle a bit better but there is no denying the latent ability that he possesses so hopefully he can go on and build on this. He shapes as though he will get a bit further too.
Dell’ Arca (pictured right) has long been a favourite at Pond House so you can imagine it was obvious delight that he was greeted having won the lady amateur’s flat handicap at Newbury on Saturday. Partnered by Miss Siobhan Doolan who has had success point-to-pointing but was incredibly enjoying her first win under rules since victorious in this race in 2013, Dell’ Arca was held up off the strong early pace before coming with a well-timed run in the straight to score a shade comfortably. He has been a real star the stable down the years, winning on the level, over hurdles and fences.
Siobhan is a real character and was thrilled just to have a ride in the race. Indeed, apparently it was ‘effing marvellous’ that we booked her, so I dread to think of the expletives as she passed the line victorious! She gave him a most accomplished ride so I am sure she will not be waiting another five years to taste further success.
Another New Addition
We were also busy claiming horses again last week with the purchase of Jacbequick after readily landing the Beverley claimer on Wednesday. Although this was only a seven furlong contest, he had won his previous start over 1m2f and scored over 1m4f last year so he clearly stays well while possessing some decent speed. Keith and Lynn Webb are his proud new owners – they enjoyed considerable success with Purple ‘N Gold who also came from a claimer and if Jacbequick (pictured below) achieves anything like that, we will all be well pleased. He is a nice dual-purpose horse for them.
The Week Ahead
Although there are no runners from the stable today (Monday) we are back with three runners at Newton Abbot tomorrow. Whitley Neil, an impressive winner at Exeter at the backend of last season contests the NH novices’ hurdle, while Midnight Sapphire makes her debut for the stable in the 3m2f handicap hurdle where she is joined by Kalifourchon. Midnight Sapphire is a lovely mare with some decent form to her name, although problems have kept her off the track since March 2017. Tom Scudamore will ride and she should go well but is fully entitled to benefit for the run. Kalifourchon reverts to hurdles after unseating over fences last time. He is below his last winning mark but we have put him back over hurdles as a confidence booster.
Midnight Magic is an intended runner in the 2m7f handicap hurdle at Worcester on Wednesday evening. He has been a touch unfortunate in his races to date and has always promised more at home.
We do not have any runners over the sticks on Thursday or Friday, although Timeforben holds an entry in the mares’ handicap hurdle at Cartmel on Saturday. We will consider the opposition, ground and routine tests before deciding on her participation.
On the level Take The High Road and Dell’ Arca hold engagements at Salisbury on Friday night, although with only a 4lbs rise on the cards for Saturday’s win, it would seem foolish to run him with a 6lbs penalty. He also has an entry at Goodwood on Saturday.
Also Rans
We had another great day on the golf course on Monday when John Dale and his son Adam kindly invited Ashley Farrant and me to join him on his team for the annual Jim Old charity golf day…you really would have thought an intelligent man like him would have learned by now! We did our best and had a thoroughly enjoyable time, although we could only finish in mid-div (again!). Many thanks to John for putting up with us once again and congratulations to Jim on another triumph of organisation.
What A Cow!
Finally, we were joined by the South West Hereford Association on Sunday. They were a group of around 30 people who breed Hereford cows. They were down visiting a local farm for a herd walk and organised a visit to the yard to tie-in with their trip. It was very nice to meet everybody and I think they enjoyed their visit before heading off to lunch at a local hotel
As usual, you can keep up to date with all the latest news from Pond House by reading Chester’s Daily Blog or following us on Twitter @DavidPipeRacing.
