- Monday, 01 October 2018 14:57
- Written by David Pipe
With the unusually dry weather conditions of late and no rain in the immediate weather forecast the ground at the tracks remains unseasonably fast. People often forget that this can happen and it will be a few more weeks before the winter horses from Pond House will be reappearing. Consequently we have had relatively few runners, while there is a bit of a dearth of entries for the week ahead. Even so, those that have run have continued to do so with credit and I remain pleased with the form of the stable.
Last Week's Runners
Jacbequick continues to be something of a revelation since joining the stable from a Beverley claimer in mid-August. Already the winner of a handicap at Ffos Las on his debut for the stable, he produced another creditable effort when runner-up at Hamilton on Monday in the veterans’ handicap over 1m4f. The winner (and favourite) did steal a bit of a march on him from the front but Jacbqequick came well clear of the remainder and continues in good form. As such, he is likely to go to Bangor on Wednesday where he could make his first start for us over timber in the novices’ hurdle.
Vaniteux made the long trip north up to Perth on Wednesday where he made his seasonal debut in the three mile handicap chase. While this was the longest trip he has attempted since his point-to-point days as a youngster he seemed to see it out well enough with a staying-on third. This was a decent starting point for him this term although he would not be at all inconvenienced by dropping back in trip. Indeed on the pick of his form last term behind Politologue over two miles or Top Notch over 2m5½f, he looks reasonably treated. The continued dry spell should suit him as he is very much ground dependent with a real preference for top of the ground. As such, he could head back to Kelso this weekend where he is engaged in the 2m1f handicap chase.
Our last runners of the week came at Worcester on Friday. Impulsive American sadly broke down in the seller and has subsequently been retired and we will find a good home for him. Our other runner, Aldrin (pictured below) ran out a good winner of the two mile handicap hurdle. Disappointing on his return from an absence at Newton Abbot, he is a horse that I have always liked and this was much more like the one I had been witnessing at home. Travelling well in rear, he made his ground nicely and quickened away to assert after the last under Tom Scudamore. Hopefully as a lightly raced type he can go on from this and rate more highly.
Ground Governs Entries
Looking to this week, as I have mentioned with a largely dry forecast for the days ahead we only have a handful of entries. Kalifourchon and Dream Free do duty for us this afternoon (Monday) at Newton Abbot, while Jacbequick could go to Bangor on Wednesday.
With the prevailing ground on the fast side we have no entries at Huntingdon, Warwick, Fontwell or Hexham between Thursday and Saturday, although Celestial Path, Aldrin, Jacbequick, Vaniteux and Kalifourchon hold engagements at Kelso on Sunday, while Jacbequick is also entered at Uttoxeter. We will continue to monitor the weather, likely opposition and the routine tests before deciding who goes where at the weekend. As always, the latest news on runners can be found in Chester’s daily chat or by following us on Twitter @DavidPipeRacing.
Golden Oldies
The golden oldies are always popular, be it in the veteran’s races, retraining of racehorses events or just news of them in their retirement so I thought I would bring you news of a couple of the best of them. Both Cyfor Malta and Dynaste are doing well in their retirement. They spend their days in the paddocks near my father’s former head lad Dennis Dummett and are great companions for one another. Dennis and his partner Norma tend to them every day and spoil them rotten.
Cyfor, now a spritely 25 years of age was a dual winner of what is now the BetVictor Gold Cup at Cheltenham’s November meeting, while he was also successful in the Cathcart at the Cheltenham Festival in 1998. Meanwhile, Dynaste is a comparative youngster at just twelve years of age. Many of you will remember that our popular grey was a dual Grade One winner of the Feltham novices’ chase and Ryanair Chase at the 2014 Cheltenham Festival. I am sure you will be pleased to see them both looking so well.
Well Done Team Europe!
Finally, I would like to offer my congratulations to the entire European Ryder Cup team following their facile success over the Americans yesterday. It was a great spectacle and a fantastic achievement for the victors.
