New Beginnings

        Jack Tudor - New Stable Jockey

Last Thursday I announced that Jack Tudor would be riding as number me jockey at Pond House and it was fantastic to get the ‘monkey off our backs’ with our first winner together courtesy of Kepagge at Ffos Las on Sunday. This was in fact Jack’s fifth winner for me in total but the first of our new partnership. It is fair to say things have been a bit frustrating of late with regards to winners but we have been knocking on the door with lots of seconds and I was quite a relieved to get that win, our 70th of the season.  

Jack Tudor

Since Tom Scu retired I have been mulling over various options for a stable jockey and lots of different jockeys have been riding out and offering their services. Jack is a talented young rider with lots of big race experience on his CV already. He has a mature head on young shoulders, a good temperament for the role and can do bottom weight without a struggle. He has been in schooling for the last few weeks and we have begun to build a nice rapport which bodes well for the future. He has given good feedback to myself and the owners post-race which is also vitally important.  Jack, Tom Scu and I had a chat early last week and after he spoke to Christian Williams we were able to make the announcement. Christian has helped Jack become the jockey he is today and they will continue to work with each other going forwards. We will have first call on Jack for racing and I am looking forward to building our relationship together and having lots of winners.

Kepagge Wins Again

Jack had a horrible fall when in contention at Haydock on Saturday but these jockeys are made of strong stuff and despite going off the hospital for checks he was given the all clear to ride at Ffos Las on Sunday. Kepagge will go down in history bad being Jack’s first winner for me and I was delighted for the horses owner Sarah Ling. She has been very patient with me and the horse and so I was delighted he was able to win for her again. He missed last season through injury and has taken his time to get his confidence back but the application of a visor has really help him focus and this was his second win from three starts in the headgear. He seems love Ffos Las and this was his second win at the track this season.  That is now it for him for the season but he is one to look forward to going over fences next season.

Milestone Reached

There was also great runs in the last week from Sidi Ismael to finish second in the West Wales National and Dindin was also a close second after being badly hampered at Plumpton as well on Sunday.  We had a pair of seconds at Hereford thanks to Duc De Beauchene and Abaya Du Mathan running well also and Via Dante was clear in the lead, looking a certain winner at Newton Abbot before falling at the second last.  We have had plenty of seconds in the last few weeks, too many for my liking but hopefully we can get a few more winners on the board before the season ends at Sandown on 29^th April.  Abaya Du Mathan’s second placing actually earnt us enough money to take us through the £1 million prize money barrier for the season.  This is a great milestone for us to have passed having not won this much money for the last five seasons.

This Week

Looking ahead to this week we have a few runners at Exeter on Tuesday and then Taunton on Thursday.  We have a couple of entries on the flat at Leicester on Friday and then at the weekend at Chepstow, Huntingdon and Wincanton.  This week is of course the big build up to the Grand National at Aintree on Saturday. Unfortunately we do not have any runners in the big race this year but it is always a great few days of action to look forward to.

Vieux Lion Rouge

Vieux Lion Rouge is heading back to his beloved Aintree on Saturday to take part in the parade of former greats. He has been enjoying life on Exmoor following the hounds since he left Pond House in October and even had Harry Cobden has been on board him on the moors in recent weeks! He holds the record for most Grand National fences ever jumped and I am sure he will love being back in the limelight at the weekend.