- Monday, 15 January 2024 15:11
- Written by David Pipe
Royal Mer Leicester Winner
This week’s musings come from slightly sunnier and warmer climates than in Britain at the moment – I am in Jamaica! Leanne and I have headed to the Caribbean for a short break so thanks must go to the team at home for keeping the show on the road and Leanne’s mum Ang for looking after the children! We headed to Heathrow after racing at Warwick on Saturday and had a good journey over and safely arrived. It is a small world – we travelled over with the clerk of the course from Wetherby!
Veterans Chase Final
Ramses De Teillee ran a cracker in the Veterans chase final at Warwick to fourth. I thought he would run well and he is a horse that never lets you down. His enthusiasm and lust for life and racing is infectious and he always tries his best. They went one hell of a gallop in that race from the off – two mile pace for the first half a mile the stats say – and the pace was relentless. He travelled and jumped well and had every chance from turning in but couldn’t keep up with the front trio approaching the last. The horses in the race may be the elders of the jumps racing world but it was a race full of class and we are proud of our fella. In an ideal world we would have preferred the ground softer than it was but no excuses, it was a very good run from our gallant grey. He has come out of the race in great form and I will have a chat with owners when I get back about future plans.
I must just take a moment to thank the BHA, Warwick racecourse and all those involved in getting the race re-arranged. I appreciate it is not as easy as it may appear from the outside for this to happen but I think it was an important race not to lose, highlighted by the goodwill and reaction both we, and I am sure lots of other horses have received from the racing public leading up to Saturday and since the race.
Royal Mer Wins Again
Royal Mer was a nice winner at Leicester last week. The track had to pass three inspections for racing to go ahead but thankfully it did! This was his second win from three starts since going to chasing and there is more improvement to come. He travels through his races like a dream, jumping is his great asset but then he does like to give us all moments of worry from the last fence! He travels to the front extremely well but then seems to give his nearest rival a chance of winning on the run-in before pulling out a little more to win a shade cosily! The handicapper won’t be able to raise him too much for that win and he could return back to Leicester next week for a similar contest.
We didn’t have many other runners last week but there was a great run from First Lord Du Cuet to be a close second at Market Rasen. His season had been a bit of a disaster until this point but this put him firmly back on track and as long has the handicapper doesn’t overreact (the first two pulled well clear of the third) his first chasing success should hopefully not be too far away.
This Week
Hereford got the go ahead to race on Monday but what other meetings takes place this week is in the lap of the gods with the weather. Lots of the courses have fleece covers down but and these only work up until a certain temperature so it just depends how cold things get. Most seem quite hopeful but we will just have to wait and see! If racing goes ahead at Plumpton on Tuesday we have two runners there, Ben Lilly and Kauto Kawai. On Wednesday Paricolor is declared to run at Newbury while later in the week we have entries at Ludlow and Wincanton on Thursday, Lingfield and Market Rasen on Friday. Keep checking the Daily News for the most up-to-date information on the stable runners. Temperatures do look set to rise at the weekend and with some big meetings at Ascot, Lingfield and Haydock, let’s hope the forecast is correct.
Peter Deal
I am also deeply saddened to let you know of the passing of Peter Deal aged 84 following a battle with illness. Peter has been a family friend and owner for many years, he was lovely man and a true gentleman. Many great horses have worn his colours to big success, the most well-known was of course Champion hurdle winner Make A Stand but there was also Blowing Wind and Mamlook to name just a couple. I have only just received the news today so will reflect more in due course but my thoughts and wishes are with his wife Pam, daughter Michelle and the rest of the Deal family at this time.
