New Recruit

As you will be well aware by now, the Pond House team have long been synonymous with purchasing horses from sellers and claimers, be it on the flat or over jumps, in England or in France and I was delighted to secure the winner of the 1m3f three year old seller at Goodwood yesterday (Sunday) afternoon.  Borntobealeader (pictured above) was convincing in beating the favourite by 3¾ lengths with a further 6½ lengths back to the third and he looks tailor made for juvenile hurdles this season.  We have already had him in the loose school and I am looking forward seeing how he gets on in the weeks and months ahead.

(Red) Happy Birthday!

Our only runners last week came on Tuesday, although we were back amongst the winners with the success of Red Happy at Bangor continuing our good start to the new campaign and taking our tally for the season to 24.  I was actually in Majorca last week, enjoying a short break before the core part of the jumps season gets underway but through the wonders of modern technology, I was able to keep my finger on the pulse of things going on at home.

Apart from a few meetings in the north, there were relatively few opportunities over jumps last week and so, all of our runners were done and dusted by Tuesday.  Red Happy (pictured right) was a ready winner of the staying handicap chase at Bangor under Tom Scudamore.  Our five year old raced prominently throughout and led for much of the final circuit and was finding plenty when his only rival made a mess of the last, allowing him to come home well clear.  This was his fourth chase success since joining us in December and is yet another good value purchase from a French claimer.

I was especially pleased for owner Fergus Wilson, for whom this was a birthday winner.  Fergus and his wife Judith, whose name the horses run in, have been tremendous supporters of the yard for many years and I am delighted to see them enjoying such great success.

The Week Ahead

After a quiet Bank Holiday Monday, we will have five runners tomorrow at Newton Abbot; Cadeau d’Or, Dindin, El Paso Wood, Lady Reset and d’Jango will represent the yard there.  Cadeau d’Or contests the 2m2½f maiden hurdle at 4.30pm.  He ran a good race at the track last time out and this slightly longer trip looks sure to suit and he should go well under Tom Scudamore.

We are doubly represented in the 2m5f handicap chase at 5.50pm with El Paso Wood and Dindin running.  El Paso was runner-up over course and distance from this mark last time out and should be thereabouts once again, whilst Dindin fell at the last here with the race at his mercy in July, although has been a little below that since.

The admirable Lady Reset contests the 2m1f handicap hurdle at 5.40pm.  She ran really well when a close third at Perth last time and does not know how to run a bad race.  Considering this was a 0-140 handicap, the top weight is 24lbs below the rating ceiling, which will disappoint course officials, but it offers a good opportunity to pick up some decent prize money and it is our job to try to do just that.

d’Jango will be our final runner in the 3m2f handicap chase at 7.10pm.  He has won over hurdles and fences this term and has stamina in abundance.  He is not the most natural over fences, but has plenty of ability and a clear round will see him pick up prize money regardless of finishing position.

We will have two runners at Worcester on Wednesday with Abaya du Mathan contesting the 2m7f handicap chase at 4.40pm.  He has been a little in and out this season, but is 6lbs lower than when runner-up at Aintree in June and would have a chance if returning to that sort of form.

Red Happy runs in the 2m7f handicap hurdle at 6.10pm.  A winner from a mark of 127 over fences last week, he is able to run from a 2lbs lower mark on Wednesday, so it looks like a good opportunity for him, although with three other last time out winners in the line-up, it is a very competitive affair.

Further ahead, Duesenberg and Lady Reset hold entries at Stratford on Saturday, whilst Dindin is engaged at Fontwell on Sunday.  We will take a look at those race before making any decisions on their participation, so don’t forget to keep up to date with all the latest running plans in our daily news bulletins.