Ben Lilly - Winner at Newton Abbot

The highlight on the racecourse last week was the victory of Ben Lilly in the colours of the David Pipe Racing Club at Newton Abbot on Friday.  It is fair to say this gelding had been somewhat frustrating to date, having promised a lot but failing to deliver over hurdles…until now!  He has won seven races on the level and has an engine but it is fair to say that despite being consistently placed since arriving at Pond House he was probably keeping a little bit for himself in his races.  It was eleventh time lucky however for our six year old and everything fell right for him to get his head in front and give Gearoid Harney his second winner since turning conditional. 

It was also great as Lukke, who works in the yard and looks after him and loves this horse.  Having only just started with us this summer it was his first winner he has led up and so meant a lot to him and all our Racing Club members.  The aim is to go back to Newton Abbot with him next Monday for a very similar race over the same distance.  Hopefully that win will have done Ben to world of good and he can build on this and win again!

Bashful Boy ran well enough in the Cesarewitch Trial at Newmarket on Saturday to be fifth at odds of 50/1.  The race wasn’t ideally run to suit as he came from the back of the field when the front four had already kicked for home.  Tom Queally felt he stayed the trip well enough and ridden a bit handier he could have been more involved in the finish.  There is a scratching stage for the Cesarewitch race itself this week but the plan is to leave Wordsworth, Bashful Boy and Oceanline in at this stage and see what happens.  While Wordsworth is guaranteed a run, the other two will need a few to come out to get in the race.

Our only other runner since last writing was Ya Know Yaseff at Uttoxeter.  She was aiming for a hat-trick of wins but put up a below par performance to finish a well beaten fourth.  The ground was soft enough for her and we know she is better than this, she probably found the race coming a little too quick after recent exertions.  We will freshen her up at home so she can hopefully return and continue to progress.

This Week

Things are once again a little quiet on the runner’s front while we await the jumping to get going in earnest.  While we have a couple of runners at Warwick on Monday afternoon and Lady Reset runs on the flat at Lingfield on Tuesday things turn a little quiet after this.  We do not head to Perth for their two day fixture and we just have the one entry at Worcester on Friday, Thistlebuffs.  Nibras Gold and Dindin have entries at Market Rasen on Saturday so keep checking the Daily News for the latest news on the stable runners.

Gleneagles Golf

Last week I had a trip to Scotland to play golf at Gleneagles.  While the weather wasn’t great and neither was my golf I still had a very enjoyable trip and look forward to going back again!

Horses in Training

Please find below the sixth instalment of our horses in training feature we have been doing in recent weeks.  Going through the horses in alphabetical order I am pleased to introduce a few more of our equine team for the season ahead.

Neon Moon

Neon Moon had wind surgery in November last year and showed some good chasing form after this, stepping up in trip to three miles. He was nabbed on the line at Taunton and then probably ran a career best at Ascot to finish second to Cap Du Nord in a Premier handicap chase. Had excuses after this and was struck into by another horse when pulling up in his final run of the season at Haydock. Still a novice for this season over fences, he should be able to open his account over the larger obstacles without too much difficulty.

Nibras Gold

Nibras Gold is the winner of two hurdle races and placed four times from just seven starts. He won on his comeback this year at Ffos Las before finishing third at Worcester and then second at Newton Abbot and Southwell.  Has further scope for improvement off his rating of 116 and he will continue to run before having a winter holiday.

Nila

Nila was the impressive winner of a claimer in France at Saint Cloud over 1m6f last summer. She has had a few little niggles which have kept her off games since then but the time off will have done our four year old no harm and could be an interesting horse to follow in novice hurdles.

Oceanline

Oceanline won on stable debut last summer and then suffered from colic, which kept him out of action for a while. His runs this year have been disappointing but has been treated for ulcers and we hope this does the trick. Prefers better ground and he may have a run on the flat at some point as well. Holds an entry in the Cesarewitch at Newmarket.

Ocean Heights

Ran well on the flat for us before gaining some experience in novice hurdles. Hated the heavy ground when pulling up on handicap debut at Warwick in January. Rated 74 on the flat, he also has scope for improvement in this sphere and is likely to be out on the level soon.

Only Fools

Twice a winner on the flat in France, she took a little while to get the hang of things over hurdles but has run consistently well in handicaps, finishing second twice. Shows a good attitude and deserves to get her head in front.

Only The Bold

He was the nine-length winner of a chase at Bangor on his Pond House debut and won equally as well at Hereford after. Found 2m4f too sharp at Haydock after this and we were keen to run him in the Scottish National but quick grounds put an end to this plan. Life will be tougher off a mark of 136 but he is a horse we like a lot and is still unexposed as a staying chaser.

Pachacuti

Pachacuti improved for stepping up in trip last season. He was perhaps an unlucky second at Hereford but then won easily at Fakenham. You can put a line through his last run at Warwick where he returned home having pulled a muscle and there is definitely more to come off his current mark.

Panic Attack

A lovely big mare who took to chasing very well last season. Won impressively on chasing debut at Huntingdon and was a good fourth in a competitive event at Cheltenham in January when a mid-race blunder did help her chances. You can put a line through her run at Warwick where she was unusually keen after this and there is still more to come from her over fences. She suffered a small setback after this run so probably won’t be seen back on the racecourse until the second half of the season.

Paricolor

Paricolor has been a remarkable horse for Pond House for many years and is still only seven! He has won nine races for us from 29 starts and been placed many times as well. He has summered well, and will continue to give us a lot of fun and win races going forwards. We have shares available to own him, so please do get in touch for more information – 01884 840715 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Horses in Training 2023-24 Brochure

I hope you enjoy reading the snippets above our horses and we now have our latest horses in training brochure available to buy.  Learn all about the horses we have here at Pond House for the season ahead and much more following Tom Scu’s retirement earlier this year and more about Jack Tudor who has now taking the helm in the saddle.  Brochures are £10 to include postage and packaging.  Please get in touch with the office 01884 840715 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  to order your copy.