Busy Times

The week ahead is looking very busy to, not that I am complaining at all as it is great to have so much going on.  This is my favourite time of year with the winter horses being ready to run and the excitement and anticipation for the season ahead.  We are of course just waiting for nature to help us out a little and give us and all the racecourses some rain!  This is why I only have a few entries at Cheltenham on Friday and Saturday as the ground is described as good to firm, good in the back straight and firm in the shute.  I do feel sorry for all of these tracks as they are in an impossible situation.  I believe Cheltenham have been watering since the 5^th September and yet this has obviously had little impact on the going.  I have four entries in the first Pertemps Qualifier of the season with Ashkazar topping the weights while also in the race is stable star Buena Vista who has of course won the Final at the Festival for the past two years.  Raslan and Qulinton are also entered in the race on Friday with Trop Fort my only other entry in the maiden hurdle.  On Saturday Frosted Grape is entered in the 3 mile handicap chase and Barney Cool is entered in the Bumper but he will need some rain if he is to take up this engagement.  Barney is the last foal bred by his owners Nick and Sue Mills from their brilliant mare Laurel Diver with his siblings including the great Mr Cool, Miss Cool, Maybe Cool, Your So Cool and Very Cool.  He made a pleasing debut last season with an impressive success at Fontwell when ridden by the champ AP and we are really excited about the forthcoming season with him.  Before then I just have a few entries at Wincanton and Uttoxeter on Thursday but what runs will depend on what happens to the going.

Reflecting on last week it was a fantastic performance from African Broadway at Chepstow on Saturday on his hurdling debut.  He was of course a good winner of his Bumper at Newbury in January on a day that was such thick fog you could not even see the race until he emerged from the gloom to cross the line!  He was so good that day that we did wonder if he had jumped in half way round but I think his performance on Saturday proved once again that he has a bright future.  He was winner 24 of the current campaign and things are ticking along quite nicely.  Our three runners in the Cesarewitch have all come out of their races well and although Tasheba and Big Occasion were a little disappointing it is a very competitive race and these horses will now return to hurdling.  Beyond ran well, staying on but not quite having the tow of the leaders inside the final two furlongs to finish a pleasing seventh and the plan is also to return over obstacles with him.

Meanwhile on Friday American Art completed a super four timer under Conor O’Farrell.  All his wins may only have been in seller’s and claimers but it is still a fantastic feat for any horse to achieve four wins in a row and it is great for his owner Brian Kilpatrick who is a long serving patron of Pond House.

The new whip ban rules have kicked in today and so far I have not heard of anyone breaking the rules.  I personally do not think there will be too many problems this week but it will be interesting to see what happens at the weekend when we have Champions Day at Ascot especially.  You have some of the best horses running in the best races for some of the richest races in Europe.  If you were a jockey riding on Saturday you would possibly have to consider an extra use of the whip if it meant the difference between winning or loosing….we shall see what happens both on the flat and over jumps.

I t was sad to hear the news that Terry Biddlecombe suffered a stroke on Saturday and is in the John Radcliffe hospital in Oxford where he is poorly.  According to Henrietta’s website he is likely to remain in hospital until he can swallow and speak properly.  I would like to send my best wishes to Terry, Hen and all the family.  Terry visited us at Pond House not too long ago with Hen and he is a great character and certainly livened up the place.  Get well soon Terry.