- Monday, 28 December 2020 12:35
- Written by David Pipe
Because of the awful weather conditions and the shortened racing calendar owing to the Christmas period, we were limited to just two runners last week. Nevertheless, we were among the winners courtesy of the Wetherby success of Remastered (pictured above) on Sunday, which took our seasonal tally to 29.
Remastered Remains Unbeaten
Remastered has always looked to be a good staying chaser in the making and he has done nothing to alter my opinion, winning his two starts over the larger obstacles in good style. He won in the manner in which he was entitled to on Sunday, beating his sole rival a shade comfortably. He jumps and stays well and loves the prevailing heavy ground. A big, scopey sort, he should continue to progress with experience.
The Week Ahead
Looking to the week ahead, we were due to have runners at this afternoon’s Leicester card but the meeting was abandoned due to waterlogging, whilst Haydock’s card on Wednesday was abandoned after 4 inches of snow fell on the course on Sunday night/Monday morning. We will have a couple of runners at Newbury on Tuesday where Panic Attack will contest the 2m mares’ handicap hurdle at 12.20pm. She disappointed in a hot Cheltenham handicap last time, but had previously won well at Uttoxeter, form which would give her every chance here under Tom Scudamore.
Our other runner at Newbury will be Nordic Combined who runs in the 2m41/2f handicap hurdle at 2.05pm. He was rather unlucky at Cheltenham earlier in the month as he was upsides the leaders when badly hampered at the last in a competitive handicap. He travelled beautifully through the race that day and whilst he does not win as often as he might, he has shown more than enough to suggest that he can continue to be competitive from this sort of mark. He has a nice racing weight and Fergus Gillard takes an additional 5lbs off his back – I hope he didn’t overdo the Christmas turkey!
We will have three runners at Taunton on Wednesday; Iron Heart in the juvenile hurdle, Dell’ Arca in the staying handicap hurdle and Little Red Lion in the staying novices’ handicap chase. Iron Heart ran a nice race at Newbury last time in a competitive juvenile hurdle, whilst Dell’ Arca was far from disgraced when chasing a hat-trick at Newbury last time. He will have the welter burden of 12-5 to carry, although Fergus Gillard will take 5lbs off his back in what should theoretically be a less competitive contest.
Little Red Lion will be our final runner at Taunton when he runs in the 2m7f novices’ handicap chase. He was a good winner at Lingfield last time out and whilst this is tougher, he is a lightly-raced improving gelding who should go well under Fergus Gillard.
We have a few entries later in the week at Uttoxeter and Warwick on Thursday and Exeter on New Year’s Day and will take a view on those a bit later on.
Welsh National Rescheduled
It was a shame to lose the Welsh National on Sunday, although with 100mm of rain in the week prior to the meeting the ground would have been desperate. We were due to be doubly represented in the big race with Ramses de Teillee and Vieux Lion Rouge. The good news is that the meeting has been rescheduled and will now take place on Saturday 9th January.
Get Well Gordon
I was concerned to hear that my good friend Gordon Elliott had contracted Covid-19. It would seem that he is asymptomatic and the remainder of his team have all tested negative, which is good news. However, it does mean that he is going to be self-isolating for a while. I have heard from him and he seems in good form so let’s hope that he remains well.
Brilliant Bryony!
Congratulations to Bryony Frost who gave Frodon a brilliant ride to win the King George at Kempton on Saturday. She is a breath of fresh air to the industry and continues to represent the sport over jumps in the same way that Hollie Doyle does on the flat. Very well done, we are all delighted for you.
Happy New Year!
Finally, I hope that you all enjoyed a good Christmas and would like to wish you a happy and healthy New Year. Thank you to everyone for following the fortunes of the Pond House team during the past twelve months and I hope you will continue to do so in 2021 and beyond.
