Two More Winners

     Vision De Maine Winne at Lingfield

With weather conditions on the dry side last week, we did not have that many runners last but I was delighted to get another win on the board with Vision De Maine winning for the second time this season, this time at Lingfield and making it two from two over fences.  He made one bad jumping error mid-race with which we all had our heart in our mouth for a second but he jumped perfectly after this and he drew away from his nearest pursuers after the last.  He is a relentless galloper and the further he goes the better he goes.  We will see what the handicapper does to his rating on Tuesday morning but I do not think they can be too harsh and there is plenty more to come.

Activist got the new week off to a great start by winning at Leicester on Monday afternoon.  It was his seasonal reappearance and he bounced right back to form.  He travelled and jumped well towards the head of affairs in a competitive looking race, Jack sent him on approaching the second last hurdle, and he galloped all the way to the line.  A rival began to close on him approaching the finish but he was always doing enough, it was a nice performance and hopefully he can build on this going forwards.

Activist was our 29^th winner of the season and the horses remain in good form.  Steppenwolf returned from a break with a good second at Kempton while Lock Out ran well enough to be third at Taunton.  The course is probably a little sharp for him and he will be better returned to a more galloping track next time.  American Sniper was not beaten far in sixth place when trying to win the conditional jockeys race at Cheltenham for the second consecutive year.  In hindsight, he may have run a bit free in first time blinkers but he galloped all the way to the line and carrying the penalty from his win at Newbury the previous week was just a bit much for him this time.  Thanksforthehelp ran well enough to be fourth at Cheltenham on Saturday.  He is not been the easiest to train in the last couple of years and although disappointing not to win, it was a step back in the right direction and there is a nice prize in him, probably on a little softer going.

This Week

On Tuesday, we travel to Fakenham with two runners, Micronormous and Dindin.  It is a long way for us to travel but there is good prize money on offer for the grade of race and Micornormous’ race is a qualifier for a valuable mare’s final back at the course in January.  She is not very big and makes her chasing debut having schooled well at home and she is an Irish point-to-point winner.  The track, trip and ground should all be okay and it will be interesting to see how she gets on.  On Wednesday, we have just the two runners, one at Ffos Las and one at Warwick.  Harry Junior is making his hurdling debut in the two-mile maiden hurdle.  He ran with promise at Chepstow in a bumper in October, he has come on lots for that experience and we have done plenty of schooling with him.  He is a lovely big staying chaser of the future but I am looking forward to getting him out of over hurdles.  Jiliaijone runs in the conditional jockeys handicap hurdle over 2m3f at Warwick.  His second place last time out at Fontwell is now looking good after the winner followed up at Cheltenham the other day and with Gearoid Harney taking a handy six pounds off he should run well.  Any rain they get at the track will help.

On Thursday, we have First Lord Du Cuet entered in the Veterans chase at Warwick but he does hold further entries at the weekend.  Rian Corcoran is likely to have his first ride for me since starting work full time at House at Wincanton and will team up with African Lady in the opening contest on the card.  Rian did ride Only Fools to be third at Leicester last season but retains his status as a novice rider for the season in the point-to-point field.  He is a talented young rider to watch out for this season between the flags and on the racecourse when he gets opportunities as well.  Kolisi and Kintaro are our others horses entered on the same card. On Friday, we have a few entries at Chepstow and at the weekend, we have entries at Ascot, Haydock, Exeter and Uttoxeter.  Keep checking the Daily News on the website for the latest information on the stable runners.  Our Haydock entries include Phantomofthepoints in the stayer’s handicap hurdle, a race we have done well at in the past.  He also has an entry in the 2m3f handicap hurdle as well on the card and we will see what the weather does this week before deciding which race he will run in.

Albert Bartlett Triple Crown Series

Last Thursday, mum and dad represented me in London at the Irish Embassy at an evening to celebrate Willie Mullins being Champion Trainer his year.  They had a great evening amongst fellow trainers and friends, sharing stories of past and present.

King Turgeon Celebration

It was lovely to welcome the owners of King Turgeon to Pond House last week to celebrate his win in the Grand Sefton at Aintree.  Not all were able to make it racing on the day so it was nice they brought him a carrot and enjoyed watching the race again while having a glass of bubbles to celebrate.  Meanwhile King Turgeon, aka ‘Ron’ loved the attention and having photos with his winner’s sheet on!  He has come out of the race in good form and we have entered him back at Aintree in the Becher Chase at the beginning of December.  I see we are currently installed as 8/1 favourites for the race and going there is the plan at this stage although we shall be keeping an eye on the weather a bit closer to the time. 

Point to Pointing

The 2024-25 point-to-point season is underway and action this coming weekend in the West Country is at Great Trethew on Sunday.  I have a couple of point to pointers in the yard for some of our young jockeys to have a few rides this winter and we could run the first of these this weekend, Fighter Allen.  He would need some more rain before then but the forecast does look like we may get some.  It is very difficult for any young jockeys to get rides and get their career going, especially if they don’ have the family support.  It worked very well for our two young lads last year and they both rode their first ever winners and through these rides they were able to make new contacts and gain experience.  Martin McIntyre is the most experienced of our amateur jockeys and he rode his 100^th point-to-point winner during last season and has ridden several under rules as well.  Lukke Morris will now be entering his second season point to pointing while working at Pond House and has two winners to his name.  He now has his Cat A amateur licence and is hoping to progress his career between the flags and under rules this season.  Conal Kavanagh has moved onto pastures new and they are joined this time by Rian Corcoran who and Mia Holmes who has recently joined the team as well.  Mia is 16 years of age, lives locally and had done work experience with us in her school holidays for the last couple of years before joining us full time.  Her grandmother, Mary Sanderson used to work at Pond House for dad and has trained her own point to pointers successfully for many years.  Mia’s older sister Shannon has been pointing already and Mia would like to follow in her sisters footsteps.   Fighter Allen has plenty of talent and will be a good ride for any of our four jockeys in the coming months.