National Racehorse Week

    New Woodchip put on the Gallops

We just had he one runner last week, Ben Lilly who ran on the flat at Goodwood.  This was his first run back for a while as he had picked up an injury and he ran okay on ground that was softer than ideal.  This will have put him spot on for a run over hurdles next though we will be running him again on the flat as well at some point. 

This Week

We have our first runners of the new week at Newton Abbot on Monday afternoon.  Final Entry and Saucats both run in the same race, the juvenile hurdle.  Final entry made a winning stable debut at the track last month and hopefully can run well again while Saucats makes his Pond House debut.  He has finished placed over hurdles in France but his recent form has not been as good.  He has settled in well to life in England since arriving, he will not mind the ground and it will be interesting to see how he gets on.

Our final jumps runners of the week will be at Worcester on Wednesday where we have four declared for the twilight fixture with racing starting at 4.03pm.  Oceanline returns to his beloved track where both of his previous hurdle wins have come at, including last time out, just over three weeks ago.  That win was over 2m7f but he will not mind dropping down in distance as his previous course win was over this trip.  He is up six pounds for the win but is still well treated compared to his flat anility so I hope he won’t be too far away.

Back in the Bay makes her hurdling debut in the mare’s maiden contest.  She ran well in her first bumper but was a little disappointing last time.  She has schooled well at home and will appreciate the step up in trip to 2m4f, having shown form in Irish point to points.  Micronormous returns from over a year off the track in the 2m7f maiden hurdle having finished third when last in action at Fontwell in May 2023.  She is in good form at home and it will be good to see her back on the racecourse.  Kintaro runs in the concluding race on the card, a conditional jockey’s handicap hurdle with Gearoid Harney in the saddle.  He showed promise to be placed in his first two starts over hurdles and then disappointed on handicap debut at Newton Abbot last time.  The ground was soft enough that day and I think a return to Worcester, where he has run well before at will suit and he wears first time blinkers.

After Wednesday there is then no jumps racing again until next Monday back at Worcester.  We do have Nibras Gold entered on the flat at Chester on Friday and we will keep an eye on the weather before deciding if he runs.

Busy Times

Despite us not having many runners at the moment with the racing a little fragmented, things are pretty hectic back at the yard.  The winter horses are in full swing on the gallops as we are gearing them up for a return to action from October onwards while we are also making sure everything is tidied and ready for our visitors at the weekend.  We have a David Pipe Racing Club visit on Saturday morning follow by visitors on Sunday morning as part of National Racehorse Week.  We have over 100 people coming each day so it is great to be able to welcome so many people to Pond House.

ITV Westcountry News TV cameras came down last Friday and filmed a piece with me at the yard about the week and from that piece shown on the news, we had quite a few more people on our waiting list to want to come to the visit!  We extended our numbers to 160 to accommodate everyone, so it promises to be a busy morning.  It was probably a good job we did not open our doors yesterday – it was very wet for much of the day!  We have had 83mm of rain here in the last few days, it was quite funny watching racing from Bangor on Friday in the warm sunshine while it was miserable and wet here!  The rain has been good however in one way, as we have just topped up our woodchip gallops once again, something we do quite regularly.  New woodchip is put on by our gallop man Mike, using a tractor and spreader and then it is continuously rolled to help it bed in.  The rain in a good help as this helps it to settle down as well.  This is something we do 3-4 times a year.  We regularly measure the depth, top up the places that need refilling most and then spread a layer on the whole gallop to make sure it is a nice even and consistent surface from the bottom to the top.  The Wexford Sand gallop topping up works in a similar way and that will be done shortly as well. 

David Noonan Wedding

Jockey, David Noonan is getting married at the weekend to long term partner Harriet and Leanne and I are looking forward to going to the evening reception.  David came over and joined us full time in 2013 as a young 18 year old from Cork, having coming over for a few weeks the previous summer.  He started his riding career in West Country point to points and has progressed to have a successful career as a professional jockey and has ridden 237 winners.  While ncurrently number one retained rider for Jane Williams he still rides out at Pond House regularly and we will continue to use him this season when available.  He was very quiet and shy when he first arrived but has matured into a well-liked and respected young man and it will be great to share his big day with him.