- Monday, 14 March 2022 13:12
- Written by David Pipe
Pictured above: Adagio, last season's Triumph Hurdle runner-up bids to go one
better in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham on Tuesday
Well, the waiting is almost over! In just 24 hours, the finest jumps meeting in the world, the 2022 Cheltenham Festival gets underway. We will have a small but select team running over the course of the four days and after months of anticipation; I can’t wait for it all to get underway. I will be there each day and look forward to catching up with all of my guests in our hospitality marquee. With so many last minute bits and pieces to organise before heading off to Taunton this afternoon, I am sure you will understand if this weeks’ offering is a little shorter than usual!
Via Victorious
We were among the winners last week when Via Dolorosa gamely landed the three mile handicap chase at Southwell on Monday. Tom Scudamore gave our ten year old a well-judged front-running ride and he was always doing enough and but for an error at the final fence, he would have been even more convincing. An excellent fourth in the Grand Sefton over the National fences, it was great to see him produce that sort of form over regulation fences.
There were a number of other good performances last week, with plenty of our runners reaching the frame, although it is a little frustrating that we couldn’t convert a few of those 2’s into 1’s! Doyen La Lutte was back to form when runner-up in the 2m4f handicap hurdle at Wincanton on Thursday. She travelled much better on this occasion, only giving best when hanging left close home. There are races to be won with her on this basis, possibly back on a left-handed track.
D’Jango also posted an improved effort on the same card, finishing second in the three mile handicap hurdle. A useful chaser in France, he is not a natural over fences in this country, but this was much more like it. He looked as though he may prevail as he kicked clear as the race fell apart on the home turn and he was only collared on the run-in. He is another that should be winning shortly.
Seventeen O Four was another to finish runner-up, this time at Exeter on Friday in the two mile handicap hurdle. He is particularly effective on testing ground and his form figures on soft or heavy going now reads 110122. Duc de Beauchene also performed creditably on Saturday at Hereford in the 2m handicap chase, finishing runner-up. A great, big horse, he would benefit from a bit further on a more testing track.
As we build up to Cheltenham, I am going to be kept busy with five runners across the three jumps cards…there’s no rest for the wicked!
Festival Fever!
We will have two runners on day one of the Cheltenham Festival with Gericault Roque and Adagio representing the Pond House team. Gericault Roque contests the Ultima Chase, a 3m1f handicap chase that the stable has won in the past with Un Temps Pour Tout recording back-to-back victories. Gericault Roque looks to have a decent each-way chance in a fiercely competitive race. He has snuck in at the bottom of the weights and has a progressive profile. He jumps and stays well and will give Tom Scudamore an exciting ride.
Adagio contests the Champion Hurdle and I could not be more pleased with him. Of course, he has an enormous task to beat reigning champin Honeysuckle, but he is only a lightly raced youngster who is still improving. Tom Scudamore is in the saddle and I am hopeful that he can put up a bold show.
High-class chaser, Remastered is set to contest the Pertemps handicap hurdle on Thursday. He ran a nice race over timber on his seasonal debut at Aintree and he can run here from the same mark of 133, which is significantly lower than his chase rating. Any rain between now and then would only aid his chances and it would be no surprise to see him go well.
Koi Dodville will be our only other runner when he contests the Triumph Hurdle on Friday. A dual-winner this term, he has it to do on the book, but will give his ever-enthusiastic and colourful owner Stuart Mercer a great thrill.
Flying Form
Stable amateur Martin ‘Fly’ McIntyre was in good form in the point-to-points at the weekend, with two winners at Cothelstone on Saturday and another at Buckfastleigh on Sunday. Fly is a vastly experienced amateur rider and it is great to see him riding so well.
