- Monday, 30 January 2023 16:47
- Written by David Pipe
Barrier Peaks Wins Again
The weather continued to play its part last week with freezing nights causing fixture abandonments and making things hard work at home. Temperatures were due to rise throughout the week but it seemed to not happen as quickly as anticipated and we were therefore pretty quiet on the runner’s front for most of it. Our first runners were actually on the flat at Lingfield on Friday. We gave Bashful Boy and Borntobealeader a spin on the all-weather as they really are both waiting for better ground before we see them over hurdles again.
Runner Recap
Bashful Boy ran a nice race to be a staying on fourth. They went fairly steady in the race and after being held up he stayed on nicely at the business end. We may look to run him again on the all-weather as he looks well up to winning a similar event.
All jumps action did eventually go ahead on Saturday despite there being a few anxious moments for some courses. Panic Attack was a little unlucky in her race at Cheltenham. She made a couple errors at a crucial stage which basically cost her any chance of winning but from a very unpromising position at the top of the hill she stayed on resolutely to be a never nearer fourth. She was only a neck out of third place so it was a good effort all things considered. She has now put three good runs in a row together, something she has not always done before and I do think there is a nice prize in her over fences, maybe over a little further.
We did have a winner at Uttoxeter on Saturday thanks to Barrier Peaks and Fergus Gillard. Our seven year old followed up his Exeter win with another facile victory off a ten pound higher mark. I don’t think the handicapper can put him up too much for the win so even though he is entered again this week he may not need to run under a penalty. He has relished the step up in trip with the addition of a tongue tie since going handicapping and I don’t think he has finished improving yet.
This Week
We have a fairly busy start to this week with plenty of horses wanting/needing a run after the recent abandonments it has meant everything has been squeezed up together. The BHA have done a good job in putting on a few extra meetings and I have been lobbying for some more 2m4f handicap hurdle races. We seem to have a plethora of candidates for 0-120 races and it is proving difficult to try and keep them all apart. It does sound ridiculous but there really is limited opportunity for some!! Keep checking the daily blog for up to date news of the stable runners but we are at two meetings on Monday, two on Tuesday and Wednesday, and possibly three on Thursday which could include a flat outing for Colony Queen as she falls into the same category as Bashful Boy and Borntobealeader, who no not enjoy this winter ground so much.
On Friday we have entries at Chepstow while Remastered is likely to have a spin over hurdles at Sandown on Saturday. He is a very versatile athletic horse who jumps hurdles equally as well as the larger obstacles. He is rated ten pounds lower over hurdles than fences and has already won over hurdles this season first time out at Aintree. This race falls nicely time wise before our next intended target. He is in ‘bouncing’ form at home and is definitely ready for a run according to regular work ride Ashley Farrant!
Cheltenham First
I was delighted for Gabrial Leenders training his first Cheltenham winner on Saturday with Gold Tweet winning the Cleeve hurdle. Gabriel and his brother Gregoire worked at Pond House a few years ago before going back to France to start training. He now has a lot of horses and is doing very well based at Angers in the North West of France. Myself and dad video called him after the race and he was over the moon to have trained a winner at Cheltenham. He is a lovely chap and we often enjoy catching up at the Arqana sales. There were plenty of celebrations in the lorry on the way home and I am sure plenty since as well and I believe they intend to come back for the World hurdle in March.
Meet Ted
Sorry I forgot to put a picture of the family’s newest addition last week so thought I would share now! He is settling in well and loves a daily outing to the gallops and I am sure he will be helping me to feed up soon!
Sophie & Ted
