- Monday, 02 November 2020 16:43
- Written by David Pipe
A good week with winners on the flat and over the sticks has certainly helped no end with my recuperation after I was on the receiving end of a kicking (from one of the horses!). I am pleased to report that I am feeling much better now and whilst I still need to take things easy for a while longer, I have ventured down to the office and even watched a few lots on the gallops.
Main Fact (pictured above), our amazing seven year old gelding continued in good form with a demolition job of his rivals on the level at Catterick on Tuesday to record his seventh consecutive win (five over hurdles and two on the flat) and he will be on duty again this week. I must admit, I was a little concerned in the early stages as after breaking on terms, he was soon ridden along and five lengths detached from the field. However, Ben Curtis never panicked and latching onto the back of the pack with a circuit to go, the further he went, the better he went. So much so that he was eleven lengths clear of the runner-up by the line with the remainder of the field strung out like a long distance steeplechase.
I purchased him from the Doncaster sales for just £6,000 and he has recouped that outlay many times over, taking his owners the Munrowd’s Partnership on an incredible journey, and they feature in the latest edition of Owner Breeder Magazine. Main Fact is due to run at Nottingham on the flat on Wednesday where he will be able to compete from a mark of 71, which is 5lbs ahead of his revised rating. He takes his racing amazingly well and should take all the beating and will be partnered by winning rider Ben Curtis. This is just about his last chance on the turf this season, so he will be reverting to hurdling sooner rather than later although a mark of 147 means he is going to need to continue improving.
Racing Club Winner
The good form of the stable continued with another winner on Wednesday, this time for the David Pipe Racing Club. To Fly Free has been knocking on the door all season without quite getting her head in front. It was a little too far when third at Exeter on her previous start, but dropped back to the minimum trip around a sharp track like Fakenham was always likely to suit. Given a good, positive ride by conditional jockey Fergus Gillard, she took over at the penultimate flight and kept finding when challenged in the straight. It was a thoroughly well-deserved success for this genuine little filly and there should be more races in her for the club.
Don’t Panic!
Our final winner of the week came at Uttoxeter on Friday when Panic Attack (pictured right) ran out a convincing winner of the 2m mares’ maiden hurdle. She had shaped promisingly at Huntingdon on her hurdling debut behind a very useful type over 2m3½f and confirmed that promise here. She was not at all inconvenienced by dropping back in distance and showed a really nice attitude to come away in the closing stages. Her jumping is very good and will stand her in good stead as she steps up in grade and she remains an extremely exciting prospect for owner Bryan Drew.
Bryan also owns Gericault Roque with Caroline Tisdall and I thought this one ran an encouraging race on his rules debut to finish runner-up in the bumper at Newton Abbot on Thursday. Sticking on well in the closing stages having looked booked for fourth on the home bend, he was doing all his best work in the closing stages. Placed in an Irish point-to-point, staying is clearly going to be his game and he should do well for a stiffer test of stamina.
The Week Ahead
We have already had a couple of runners this afternoon with both Airton and Collingwood Court running decent races to finish in the frame at Hereford and Plumpton respectively.
Tomorrow we are back at our local track, Exeter where we will be represented by Shoot To Fame in the opening novices' hurdle. A point-to-point winner, she ran well in a couple of bumpers last term and will benefit from some obstacles in front of her. Rathlin Rose contests the 3m handicap chase, whilst Lady Reset runs in the 2m½f handicap hurdle. Rathlin Rose has been a tremendous servant down the years and maintains all of his enthusiasm despite now being a twelve year old. Conditions at Exeter should suit him well, although it is a very competitive eighteen runner contest and he has always improved for his first run of the season.
Lady Reset was only just touched off at Stratford last time and should go well again from a 3lbs higher mark. Fergus Gillard is on board and takes a very handy 7lbs off her back.
As I eluded to earlier, the amazing Main Fact runs at Nottingham on the level on Wednesday, whilst evergreen veteran Dell’ Arca could bid to follow-up his recent success in the Pertemps hurdle qualifier over three miles at Newbury on Thursday.
On Friday we could unleash Adagio in the juvenile hurdle at Warwick. An impressive winner on the level in France last time, he has schooled well at home and will be out soon if not on Friday.
We have plenty of entries over the remainder of the weekend at Aintree, Sandown and Ffos Las with the likes of First Lord de Cuet, Remastered and Martinhal and others holding engagements.
Fly’s Horse To Follow
Finally, I will leave you with Martin ‘Fly’ Mcintyre’s horse to follow for the season ahead. Martin, an amateur rider joined us in the summer and has had a few rides for the stable already. You can hear his thoughts by clicking on the image below…
