End Of Season Objectives

It is that time of the year when we start to wind a few of the horses down in preparation for their summer holidays.  We will be busy over the coming weeks prepping the fields and paddocks in readiness and with a largely dry forecast for the month ahead; it seems like the ideal time.  Of course, there will be those that remain in training with a view to a summer jumps campaign, whilst we have a few who could also run on the flat. 

End Of Season Objectives

There are still a few late season objectives to be considered first, with Aintree’s Grand National fixture, the Scottish National meeting and Sandown’s Bet 365 Gold Cup all taking place next month.  Indeed, Aintree is little over a week away and we will be making entries this week for the majority of those races.

We won’t be having a large team heading to Liverpool, but we have some lovely types who will be entered.  The ground will govern who we run, although I would anticipate Adagio, Umbrigado (pictured above), Leoncavallo, Remastered and Brinkley will be among those to receive entries.

We already have Vieux Lion Rouge engaged in the Grand National and we confirmed him at the latest stage last week.  He will be ridden by Conor O’Farrell who was aboard when he landed his second Becher Chase earlier this season.  Vieux Lion Rouge has already jumped a modern day record of 223 of Aintree’s unique fences without incident and I am sure he will give Conor a great spin in the big one.

Last Week

Looking back at last week and although we ultimately drew a blank, we went close with stable debutant Heure de Gloire who ran at Huntingdon on Tuesday.  She finished runner-up in the juvenile fillies’ hurdle, showing a good attitude to keep on in good style after being headed.  The winner is clearly highly regarded as she was tried in Listed company on her hurdling debut so this was no mean effort trying to concede 6lbs.  Heure de Gloire will clearly be every bit as effective with a stiffer test of stamina and will improve further when learning to settle better (hence the application of a hood).  She lost little in defeat and remains an exciting prospect going forward.  She is for sale to stay in the yard.

Enormously popular veteran Rathlin Rose ran his last race for the stable the same afternoon at Taunton.  Our gallant thirteen year old has been a tremendous servant since arriving at Pond House as a winning Irish point-to-pointer in 2014.  Since then he has won eight times, including famous back-to-back wins in the Royal Artillery Gold Cup under the amazing Guy Disney.  The pair followed-up in the Grand Military Gold Cup in 2017 and missed completing the ‘double double’ by less than two lengths in 2018.  Add to that a couple of successes in the valuable veterans’ handicap chase at Ascot and a creditable sixth in the gruelling Velka Pardubicka and it is not difficult to see why he became so popular not just at Pond House, but with the general public as well.  He concludes his distinguished racing career fit and well and will be found a lovely home for his retirement.

Above: One of the most popular pairings in jump racing, Rathlin Rose & Captain Guy Disney

The Week Ahead

Looking to the week ahead and we will have a few runners.  Indeed, we start this afternoon with two runners on the all-weather at Wolverhampton.  Ranco and Sans Logique both contest the 1m4f handicap and whilst they are big prices, I can see them outrunning their odds.  They are on the flat as the ground has been too soft over hurdles for their liking over the winter, although they will be reverting sooner rather than later should this dry weather continue.

Paricolor is an intended runner at Wetherby on Thursday.  He has been in fine form this term, winning on four occasions and he looks sure to go well again.  He may well be joined by What A Moment who is entered in the 3m handicap chase – he went close at Fontwell on his penultimate start prior to disappointing last time.  We also have Major Robinson and Shoot To Fame entered at Ffos Las the same afternoon.

The big meeting at the weekend is at Haydock where the finals of the Challenger series take place.  We have a number of entries there, including the progressive Sexy Lot who is an intended runner in the mares’ contest.  She looks to hold solid claims, although all of her best form has come with plenty of give in the ground.  Eamon An Cnoic (also entered at Carlisle) is in the two mile division, along with the David Pipe Racing Club’s Nordic Combined.  Mr Clarkson has a choice of engagements in the stayers’ race or at Newton Abbot.

Sales

We are always on the lookout for new additions to the stable either through the auction ring or via sellers or claimers in this country or in France.  There are plenty of sales taking place at the moment and with owners allowed back on track from today, what better time to become an owner at Pond House?  We have a nice selection of young horses (raced or unraced) available, whilst we can also buy to order.  Get in touch for a no obligation chat about your requirements today!