Three More Years!

There was a notable event last week which was brilliant news for the whole team at Pond House. I am delighted to announce that W & S Recycling, who have been our stable sponsors for the past three years, have agreed to continue their most generous support of the yard for a further three years from 1st October.

Their sustained support means that we are able to continue investing in the future at the stable, whilst the scheme also financially benefits each of the owners. I am sure they would all join me in extending our grateful thanks to Geoff Thompson who owns W&S. Apart from being a shrewd, self-made businessman, Geoff loves his racing and has a number of horses at the stable, including recent hurdles winner Hot Ryan.

W&S are a long established and respected recycling company, deriving their corporate name from the original name of Weymouth and Sherborne Recycling, named after the location of the two initial waste recycling centres managed by W&S proprietor Geoff Thompson in 1988. Today they operate on a nationwide level through recycling centres, site clearances and skip divisions.

Unfortunately we were not able to celebrate the good news of our sponsorship agreement with a winner, but the horses continue to run well nonetheless. Legal History finished third at Newton Abbot on Tuesday, running another solid race. Having to make his own running was far from ideal and he will be seen to better effect held up off a strong pace. Still only a four year old, he can continue to progress. There was a sting in the tail for ‘race winner’ Definitelyanoscar after his jockey Sean Bowen weighed-in light – the horse was disqualified and trainer Harry Fry fined £1,500.

I thought that Skinflint was finally going to get his head in front at Worcester on Wednesday in the 2m4f handicap chase. Leading at the last fence, he was just run out of it close home to make it four seconds from his last five starts.

Bank Holiday Runners

We kick proceedings off this week with runners at Cartmel on Bank Holiday Monday. Teaser, who is unbeaten in three starts this season, runs in the 2m1½f handicap chase. His jumping was better last time and he is improving with experience. As a four year old he receives a very handy weight allowance and carries only 10-3. Max do Brazil contests the staying chase. He has taken well to fences, winning two of his three starts. He came up against a very well-treated rival last time and should go well again under Tom Scudamore.

Mr Clarkson, who has won both of his starts this season (including at the track last time) is our final runner of the day in the staying handicap hurdle. He is 9lbs higher in the weights this time but should go well once again with regular rider David Noonan in the saddle.

Van Gogh Arrives In Belgium

We fly to Belgium on Tuesday to see Van Gogh du Granit contest the Grand Steeplechase des Flandres at Waregem (pictured right). The race is run over 2m7f and features a variety of obstacles including an Irish bank and a very wide water jump.

Van Gogh is in good order and travelled over on Saturday night, arriving on Sunday morning. The ground is likely to be very quick and with temperatures of up to 33°c predicted and no chance of rain, that isn’t about to alter. With the defection of four-time winner Taupin Rochelais we now have to carry top-weight (10-10), although that is still considerably less than he would have to carry in this country.

Rest Of The Week

Miss Tynte holds an entry at Worcester on Wednesday, whilst Ourmullion and Stream Lady have a choice of engagements over the coming days. There is some good prize money up for grabs at Newton Abbot on Saturday and Timeforben, Teaser and Midnight Magic are all entered along with the aforementioned Ourmullion and Stream Lady.

Ready, Willing, Enable!

There were emotional scenes on the flat at York on Friday afternoon when wonder mare Enable ran out a ready winner of the Yorkshire Oaks, beating old foe Magical by 2¾ lengths on her final start on these shores. In doing so she was extending her unbeaten run to twelve which includes a phenomenal 10 Group One’s. You could see what it meant to jockey Frankie Dettori as he was in tears on the way to the winners’ enclosure. Next on the agenda will be an attempt at an unprecedented third success in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in October.

Jockey Jack

We were pleased to welcome a budding young jockey to Pond House last week. Local lad Jack Emmett visited the yard with stable jockey Tom Scudamore and we were able to put him through his paces on the gallops whilst Tom was able to offer some valuable tuition on our mechanical simulator (pictured left).

Wedding Bells

Finally, I was very pleased to attend the wedding of Harry Drew to Caroline at the weekend. Harry, son of owner Bryan and Jo Drew married his fiancé in Market Harborough with the reception held at the family home. The tables were named after racehorses with the top table fittingly named ‘Un Temps Pour Tout’. Leanne and I were seated at the Moon Racer table and we had fabulous time. Congratulations to the happy couple…we wish them many years of wedded bliss.

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