Another Double

       Heure De Gloire Winner Ffos Las

Last week was one of great highs and terrible lows.  The stable was among the winners again with an across the card double at Ffos Las and Ludlow on Wednesday courtesy of Heure de Gloire and Itacare, but we were beset by tragedy that same afternoon when losing promising young gelding Seventeen O Four at the Welsh track.

Double Up

The horses continue to run well and I was very pleased with the successes of Heure de Gloire and Itacare on Wednesday.  The owners of both horses have been very patient and it is great that they have been rewarded.

Heure de Gloire had been running well over a variety of distances without quite getting her head in front, but she made no mistake in the 2m mares’ handicap hurdle at Ffos Las.  Given a positive ride by Philip Armson, she was soon in front in her first time blinkers and never saw another rival as she came home three lengths clear.  I hope this success will have acted as something of a tonic for her owner Guy who is in hospital.

Itacare was also a comfortable winner as he landed the 2m5f handicap hurdle at Ludlow.  A winner over hurdles and fences in France, he has taken a little while to acclimatise to life on this side of the Channel.   On this occasion, he benefitted from a return to better ground and a wind operation since his last run to score in the hands of Tom Scudamore.  I hope that with this success under his belt, he can go on and improve for owners Somerset Racing.

There were other creditable performances too, with Miss M reaching the frame at Southwell for the David Pipe Racing Club, whilst Morgenstern was also third at Newton Abbot and Shot Boii fourth at Wetherby.

A Sad Loss

We were all deeply saddened to lose Seventeen O Four at Ffos Las last Wednesday.  Already a winner on the flat and over hurdles, he was a promising youngster for owners Barry Wright and Rosemary White and the thoughts of the whole team are with them.  It never gets any easier to deal with the loss of one of our beloved horses as you see them over the stable door every day and get to know their traits and personalities.

Seventeen O Four was travelling well entering the straight in the 2m conditional jockeys’ handicap hurdle but made a mistake at the third last and landed awkwardly.  Fergus Gillard wisely pulled him up immediately and sadly is was a fatal injury. 

The Week Ahead

Looking to this week and it is looking like a quieter one, with our first runners coming at Uttoxeter and Fontwell on Tuesday.  We run Koi Dodville in the 2m1½f handicap hurdle at Fontwell.  He ran creditably in the Triumph last time at the Festival, but his is a more realistic level and I am hopeful he can go well for owners, Stuart and Simon Mercer.  He is joined at Fontwell by the quick reappearing Morgenstern who has been bucking and jumping since the other day and so we decided to let him take his chance again in a four runner field.

Meanwhile, over at Uttoxeter, Drag Race contests the 2m conditional jockeys’ handicap hurdle.  A winner on the flat, she should be much better suited by this quicker surface and will give David Pipe Racing Club members some fun.  Fergus Gillard takes the ride.

Abaya du Mathan and Red Happy are engaged in the 2m4f handicap chase at Wincanton on Wednesday and Paricolor, Duc de Beauchene and Grangeclare Glory are entered at Newbury on Friday.

On Saturday, we are likely to make the long trip up to Ayr where Via Dolorosa is a probable runner in the Scottish National.  Our nine year old gelding has been in tremendous form of late, scoring well at Southwell and Fakenham over three miles.  He has taken a hike in the weights as a result and the 4m2f trip is an imponderable in this tougher race, but he is in great order and deserves to take his chance.  Mr & Mrs Wilson are all about the “National’s” and it would be great if he could give them a good run for their money.

Caped Crusader

Talking of the Wilson’s, it occurred to Mrs Wilson that Via Dolorosa closely resembled Batman with his black blinkers on and thought it would be fun to send a Robin costume down for his trusty sidekick, Philip Armson.  As you can see, Phil took it in good part and donned the outfit to pose with Via Dolorosa.  Let’s hope the dynamic duo can go well this weekend!

Congratulations Amy

We were very pleased to hear from Amy Huxtable at the end of last week with an update about her former Pond House resident, Flou Artsistique.  As you will know, we are passionate about finding all of our former horses good, loving, forever homes for their retirement from racing and Flou Artsistique was no exception.

Since leaving us, he has been retrained for dressage events and we were thrilled to hear that he has been contesting the Forces Equine South West Dressage League with considerable success.  Indeed, he won the Championship Final at Hartbury earlier in the month, so that is a fantastic achievement.  As you will see from the photograph, he is looking magnificent and we are so pleased that he is enjoying a happy and fulfilling retirement from racing.