- Monday, 21 September 2020 15:35
- Written by David Pipe
With only a handful of fixtures, last week was a quiet one for the stable with two runners; Midnight Magic and Stubborn Logic participating over the weekend. There is more jumping action to look forward to this week and although our first runner won’t come until Thursday at Perth, we have considerably more entries from Friday onward.
Midnight Magic fared best last week, finishing third in the staying handicap chase at Newton Abbot on Saturday. Racing prominently throughout, he couldn’t quicken with the principles in the closing stages but ran well nevertheless. He has been marvellous since switching to fences, running consistently well. He had beaten runner-up Jack Snipe the week before when landing a conditional jockeys’ race but was unable to confirm the form on this occasion on 4lbs worse terms. There is little room for manoeuvre from his current mark, although there is also no reason why he shouldn’t continue to be competitive.
Stubborn Logic made his debut for the stable at Plumpton on Sunday in the 2m4½f handicap hurdle. He travelled well for much of the way but was just left behind late on. He will improve for the outing and would probably prefer a little more cut in the ground.
The Week Ahead
Looking to this week and our first runners will come at Perth on Thursday. Golden Jeffrey is set to make the long journey up to our most northerly course for the 3m handicap hurdle. A multiple flat and hurdle winner during his career, he has become tricky to win with although he did shape with a bit more promise last time at Southwell and a 5lbs drop in the weights seems reasonable. He is yet to try three miles on the track but he shapes as though it may suit and is certainly worth a try.
Many of our weekend entries have a choice of engagement. Mrs Miggins is entered in the 3m handicap chase at Uttoxeter on Friday as well as the 2m4f mares’ chase on the same card. A good winner last time out at Southwell, we will find the best opportunity for her although a 6lbs rise in the weights will make life tougher.
David Pipe Racing Club horses Airton and To Fly Free are the others entered at Uttoxeter, although To Fly Free is also engaged in a couple of races at Market Rasen on Saturday; the valuable juvenile hurdle and the 2m2½f.
Sans Logique, a promising fourth on his British debut at Sedgefield behind a couple of winners is entered in the juvenile hurdle at Market Rasen alongside To Fly Free. Elan de Balme, who had some useful form in France, is entered in the 2m5½f handicap chase on the card. He has been given a wind operation during the summer and deserves another to chance to prove that he is better than he has shown so far.
What A Coincidence!
I went to Doncaster Sales last Tuesday and did not come back empty-handed. Whilst I was there I purchased four year old gelding Nobel Joshua who was a winner at Clonmel twelve days previously. He is a nice, honest type and looked excellent value so I had to have him.
Then, a couple of days later I was approached by one of my former owners, Peter Allen who was telling me about his grandson Joshua who had just been accepted into a very good school in London and thought he should have Nobel Joshua to celebrate! Peter had Lucy’s Perfect (named after his daughter) and a few others at Pond House previously. You will be seeing the equine Joshua (pictured with his proud owners, below) on the track shortly in the colours of Avalon Surfacing.
Shares Available
Talking of new horses, I have a couple of lovely youngsters that have recently arrived at Pond House that will run in the colours of the Decimus Syndicates. Iron Heart (pictured below left), a three year old, attained a good level of form on the flat when winning twice for Andrew Balding. He has been intensively schooled at home and has taken to hurdles really well and looks the type to make up into a lovely young hurdler. He will be running shortly.
The other is an unraced three year old gelding by Kapgarde (pictured below right) who is a half-brother to the very smart Square Beaujon (a winner and Grade One placed in France). He hasn’t been with us all that long, but is progressing nicely and is a handsome chap who will be running in bumpers later in the season.
Decimus Racing are offering exclusive 1/10th shares in either of these promising types and they look to be ideal port of call if you are thinking of getting involved in racehorse ownership for the very first time. As a shareholder you will enjoy all of the close contact with the yard and benefits that you would expect from owning your own horse, whilst only having to pay a fraction of the cost.
Well Done Warwick!
It is great that Warwick have been given the go ahead for a limited number of spectators at their jumps meeting this afternoon (Monday). Although only 474 people have been admitted today, hopefully it is a precursor to more being allowed at a later date. Let’s hope that they can prove that it is possible to host these events safely.
Horses to follow
Finally, it is that time of the year when we are approached by a number of authors after a horse or two to follow for the season for their forthcoming publications. With that in mind, we will shortly be putting on some horses to follow videos from the staff at Pond House. We have some lovely horses to look forward to for the season ahead and there are plenty to choose from. You will soon learn that some of the staff are better judges than others!
