- Monday, 21 March 2022 15:53
- Written by David Pipe
Cheltenham is in the rear view mirror for another twelve months, but what an amazing festival it was. We endured extremes of weather, whilst the record-breaking crowds witnessed some incredible action on the track. The Pond House team almost recorded a victory on day one, whilst we were on the mark elsewhere with an across-the-card double at Doncasater and Fakenham on Friday.
We had a great time in our hospitality marquee where we entertained approximately 150 friends, owners and David Pipe Racing Club members on each day of the Festival…and it was a real God send during the downpours of Wednesday. Many thanks to Liz for her efforts in making everyone welcome once again, and to the team behind the bar, led by Phil.
We didn’t manage to bag a winner, but Gericault Roque ran an absolute blinder to finish a gutsy runner-up in the Ultima handicap chase on only his fifth start over fences. Prominent throughout, he was given a positive ride from Tom Scudamore and he jumped beautifully. He kept responding to his riders urgings and was only headed close home. He has done enough for the season now, so we will preserve his novice status for next season. He will have a break and will be a cracking prospect for next year and it is not hard to imagine him developing into a Grand National type.
Adagio was not beaten far in the Champion Hurdle behind Honeysuckle, although a bad error three out cost him any chance. You cannot make mistakes like that at this level and he did well not to fall. There will be other days for him to prove what he can do.
Koi Dodville was our only other runner at the Festival and he was far from disgraced in the Triumph Hurdle behind Vauban. He was not that far behind them approaching the last and gave his sporting owner, Stuart Mercer a great thrill. There are other races to be won with him returned to a more realistic level.
Away from Cheltenham and the horses continued to go well and I was thrilled to record an across-the-card double at Fakenham and Doncaster on Friday. Via Dolorosa (pictured above) duly supplemented his recent Southwell success with an all-the-way win in the 3m handicap chase at Fakenham. Given a positive ride by Philip Armson, he won with plenty in hand and could contest the valuable veteran’s chase back at the course on 18th April.
Olympe de Gouges completed the double when a brave winner of the mares’ maiden hurdle and she took advantage of the disappointing favourite to score in determined fashion under David Noonan. It was a good bit of placing and I hope the handicapper does not take the result too literally.
El Paso Wood belied his odds in the Midlands National at Uttoxeter, finishing a creditable fourth. He could now go for the Scottish National or Bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown.
The Week Ahead
Looking to this week and we start today with three runners; Doyen La Lutte and Miss M at Southwell, whilst Do Ya Feel Lucky competes at Wincanton. Shot Boii travels to Wetherby tomorrow (Tuesday) for the 3m novices’ handicap hurdle. A winner at Ffos Las on his penultimate start, he got stuck in the horrible ground at Lingfield last time. Hopefully, he can resume his progress on this more suitable surface.
We will have three runners at Ffos Las on Wednesday when Seventeen O Four, d’Jango and Heure de Gloire will represent the yard, whilst Itacare runs at Ludlow the same afternoon.
Olympe de Gouges has a choice of engagements at Hereford and Musselburgh on Friday and we will see what the handicapper does with her before making any decisions on her participation.
Kepagge and Koi Dodville complete our entries for the week at Ascot on Sunday.
Baptism Of Fire (And Rain)
Cheltenham clerk of the course Jon Pullin certainly had a week to remember at his first Festival. He came in for considerable criticism after watering the ground on Tuesday evening, only for it to bucket down all day on Wednesday. This led to withdrawals, disappointments and races where those who were held up, never got into contention. He has a thankless job to do to keep everyone happy, but the rain was always forecast.
Reserve Rethink Required
We were unfortunate to be on the wrong end of the reserve system last week at Cheltenham, with Remastered failing by just one to get in the line-up for the Pertemps handicap hurdle on Thursday. It is a shame as he is in good form and would certainly have enjoyed the testing conditions.
The reserve system is a subject I have broached a number of times in the past, so it is certainly not a topic I am raising out of sour grapes. As it stands, a reserve has until 1pm the day before racing for runners to drop out, allowing them to run and that seems daft beyond belief. Of course, everyone wants to run at Cheltenham and therefore the chances of any reserve making the line-up are remote. However, following heavy rain all day on Wednesday, a number of runners were withdrawn on the morning of the race which is extremely frustrating, especially when you consider that in Ireland (where the deadline is 1½ hours before the start of the meeting) the horse would have been able to run.
It is not just me asking this question either – Sam Thomas, trainer of Good Risk At All, ante-post favourite for the Coral Cup was another reserve to miss out. It is in everyone’s best interests to have maximum fields and the best possible racing and begs the question, if they can do it in Ireland, why can they not do it over here?
Congratulations Rachael
Finally, I would like to congratulate Rachael Blackmore on yet more big race success. Although not leading rider this time around, she did pick up the one that got away last year, the Gold Cup, when routing the opposition aboard A Plus Tard. The flat has Frankie and the jumps has Rachael – she may not have the Italian’s flamboyance, but the sport could not ask for a better ambassador. Apart from her sublime skill, her words and actions are well chosen, calculated and responsible. She puts racing on the front pages for all the right reasons and serves as a fine example and we are very lucky to have her.
