- Monday, 17 December 2018 16:45
- Written by David Pipe
Last week was a good one for the yard with no fewer than three winners courtesy of Know The Score, Teaser and Umbrigado. With several others also reaching the frame I am pleased with the form of the stable as the Christmas and New Year period approaches. That is obviously good news at any time of the year, but with such a busy programme in the coming weeks there are going to be plenty of opportunities and hopefully a few more winners.
Score Successful
Stepping up in trip from his hurdling debut, Know The Score (pictured top) opened his account over timber at the second time of asking when successful in the 2m4f maiden hurdle at Hexham on Wednesday. He is not a flashy type, doing no more than is asked of him but he was well on top in the closing stages and will only improve when tackling longer distances still. He is a lovely staying chaser in the making but there are plenty more hurdle races to be won with him in the meantime and he looks sure to take higher order.
Teaser (pictured right)showed the benefit of his first start over hurdles when running out a ready winner of the fourteen runner juvenile maiden hurdle at Warwick on Thursday. Jumping well in the first time cheek pieces, he stuck to his task resolutely to win well. He has already proven to be a good buy from a flat seller at Leicester in the summer and looks sure to win further races over hurdles, while he has the option of reverting to the flat at some point. He was a first winner for new owners ‘The Willpower Partnership’ and I am delighted for them – Teaser has provided them with loads of enjoyment already and I am sure he will continue to do so.
Umbrigado (pictured bottom of page) was our final winner of the week when making a winning hurdling debut at Southwell on Sunday. A winner of his only other start for us in a Uttoxeter bumper, he only had to be kept up to his work under Tom Scudamore to win readily with the first two well clear of the remainder. Runner-up in his only start in an Irish point-to-point over three miles on heavy ground before joining us, he is sure to stay further in time and rates a very nice prospect.
Indeed, we are very lucky to have a nice crop of youngsters this season with the likes of Know The Score, Umbrigado, Extra Mag, Eden du Houx and Remastered just a few of those, while the more established stars such as Un Temps Pour Tout, Mr Big Shot and Vieux Lion Rouge ensure that there is still plenty of quality around the yard.
There were a number of other noteworthy performances last week with Max do Brazil, Eur Gone West and Jacbequick all filling the runner-up spot, Three Star General finishing third at Uttoxeter and Percy Street and Great Tempo showing there are races to be won with them by finishing fourth in their respective races.
The Week Ahead
Looking to the week ahead, we have one runner this afternoon (Monday) as Little Red Lion makes his racecourse debut in the newcomers’ bumper at Ffos Las.
Ourmullion is another who will be making his first start for the stable when contesting the apprentice jockeys’ handicap at Lingfield on Wednesday. A lovely, well made type, he will go hurdling at some stage although I suspect he would not want the ground too testing.
Nordic Combined has produced two very promising performances since switching to hurdles and he is an intended runner in the maiden hurdle at Newbury on Wednesday. It looks like a decent race on paper, but it should at least provide him with a strongly run race which should suit him well.
Stream Lady (who has another engagement at Uttoxeter), Dauphine Ereine and Martabot are entered at Exeter on Thursday. Martabot is a likely runner in the amateur riders’ handicap hurdle where he will be partnered by Fergus Gillard.
Recent Plumpton bumper winner, Eden du Houx holds an entry in the Listed Ascot bumper on Friday, a race we won in the past with Seven Nation Army, while we have confirmed Friday Night Light at the latest stage for the valuable two mile handicap hurdle on Saturday’s cards.
Our only other possible runner over the weekend could be Daklondike, who is engaged in the Tommy Whittle handicap chase at Haydock on Saturday. As usual, for all the latest news on runners and riders keep up to date with Chester’s Daily Chat or by following us on Twitter @DavidPipeRacing.
