New Additions

The horses continue to run well and whilst a little frustrating that we were able to get on the scoreboard, there were a number of encouraging efforts.  Away from the racecourse, we were busy at the Newmarket Sales, securing some lovely types for the jumps season ahead, whilst looking forward; we have plenty of entries for the week ahead, especially this weekend, including over the Grand National fences at Aintree.

Evergreen veteran Dell’ Arca was far from disgraced at Aintree last Sunday on his first start since May and was not was not far from the placings, whilst the winner is a well-treated horse who has gone in again subsequently.  He has come out of his race fresh and well and could contest the staying handicap hurdle at Newbury on Thursday that he won last season.

Gericault Roque made his chasing debut for the stable at Wetherby on Saturday in the 2m3½f handicap chase and I thought that he ran a nice race to finish third.  I thought that he jumped well in the main and was doing his best work in the closing stages.  A progressive gelding over hurdles last season, he has always appealed as a chaser in the making and I am sure with this experience under his belt, he can go on from here and should be winning over the bigger obstacles sooner rather than later.  He will appreciate softer ground.

Meanwhile, also on Saturday, Leoncavallo ran another mighty race to finish second in the 1m7½f Listed handicap hurdle.  Our nine year old gelding has been an absolute star for his owners, the Value Racing Club taking them to all of the biggest meetings and never letting them down.  Up with the pace throughout, he stuck on determinedly all the way to the line for second behind a most progressive winner who landed the valuable Betfair Hurdle last term.  I have said it before and I am sure I will be saying it again, but he richly deserves one of these nice prizes as reward for his honesty and consistency.  The trouble is, consequently he gets little respite from the handicapper and remains vulnerable to improving types.

Grangeclare Glory was another to produce a good performance, finishing second in the conditional jockeys’ handicap hurdle.  This was another step forward from his Newton Abbot success as he was conceding weight to a formerly useful bumper winner and he can continue to be competitive in similar contests

The Week Ahead

Looking to this week and our first runners will come at Chepstow on Wednesday when Last Quarter makes his debut for the stable in the bumper.  A winner of a heavy ground point-to-point bumper over 2m4 in Ireland last term, he looks a nice prospect for owners, Garth and Anne Broom.

We have a hatful of entries across the three cards at Newbury, Sedgefield and Ludlow on Thursday, whilst the likes of Neon Moon, Eden du Houx and Bumpy Johnson have a number of engagements over the coming days to choose from.

Remastered, who had such a good season switched to fences last term, culminating in victory in the Grade 2 Reynoldstown Chase at Ascot, is a possible to make his seasonal reappearance at Aintree on Saturday where we have him entered in the Pertemps handicap hurdle qualifier.  We will take a look at the possible runners before deciding on his participation.  It could be a good starting point for him for the season ahead, before going for the Ladbroke Trophy (formerly the Hennessy) at Newbury.

Umbrigado, another to do very well for us last season, is a likely runner in the 2m4f Betway Hurdle on the same card.

This morning we confirmed ex-French recruit Via Dolorosa for the Sefton Chase over the National Fences on Saturday at Aintree.  A former winner of the French Grand National, he has already schooled well over our replica fences that were constructed by the team at Aintree and is an intended runner on Saturday.  He is a nice addition to the Pond House team and should give owners, Judith and Fergus Wilson a real thrill.

The replica fences are a great facility to have and are available to any trainer wishing to get some schooling practice into their horses.

New Additions

With the Newmarket Horses in Training sales taking place last week, we have been busy adding to our string and I was delighted to secure some lovely types for the jumping game.  Titian, Kolisi, Ben Lilly, and Cadeau d’Or had some very useful form over middle distances on the level and I cannot wait to see how they get on over hurdles.  They have already been in our loose school, getting some jumping practice and have pleased me.

Cadeau d’Or (pictured right) is the only one that does not have an owner at present.  A handsome, four year old gelding with plenty of size and scope about him, he is a smashing individual that had some smart form winning at 1m2f and placed at up to 1m6f, whilst all going seems to come alike to him.  He was still going notably well last time in a decent race at Yarmouth when clipping heels with the leaders and unseating his rider.  We are currently in the process of syndicating him and he rates an exciting prospect – please get in touch on 01884 840715 for a no obligation chat if you would be interested in purchasing a share in him.

The Head Lad’s Horse To Follow

Finally, it is the turn of head lad Oliver Defew as we continue our popular series of horses to follow from the team at Pond House.  Once again, legendary broadcaster Mike Vince was the man with the microphone asking the questions.  To view the video, click on the image below…