Winning Fighter

       Fighter Allen Winner Wadebridge

I have just returned from a nice few days away in Tenerife with Leanne, so it was lovely to get some sunshine and re-charge the batteries.  It was back down to earth with a bang when we returned home on Sunday evening with temperatures a lot colder back here, although they tell me it is much milder than it was while we were away!

It worked out Taunton was the only jumps meeting to survive the weather last week and we had just the one runner, Saccary.  He made his hurdling debut and jumped well enough and he will improve for the experience.  Most meetings knew their fate relatively early last week with snow and frozen ground the main reason for all the abandonments but at least everyone knew what was happening. The BHA have been proactive in organising extra meetings and it was good to get so many races aired live on ITV on Saturday.

We did have a winner at Wadebridge point to point on Sunday.  We took three horses down there and the day got off to a good start with Fighter Allen winning the novice riders conditions race with Rian Corcoran on board.  He finished runner up at the track on his British pointing debut in December and reversed the placings with the winner that day this time around.  Both Fighter Allen and The King’s Writ were quite highly rated under rules and the pair pulled clear.  It was a good performance from our ten year old under a well-judged ride from young Rian and he is back enjoying his racing again.  We will be looking for hunter chases for him little later down the track as well as return to rules action – he is for sale should anyone be interested in owning him!

Sidi Ismael finished second in the Mixed Open race, narrowly missing out in a photo finish with Lukke Morris riding.  This was his second start in a point to point and it has been great to get him back following injury.  He enjoys his racing and this was a good run with him and the winner having done very well under rules before.  There will be much more fun to be had with him in the coming months in this sphere and he is a great ride for our young jockeys to get some experience on.

Royal Defender finished fourth in the restricted under Martin McIntyre.  He was the winner of an Irish point to point originally but had not lived up to expectations since then.  This was a step back in the right direction and it gives us something to build on next time.  They tell me it was competitive racing and a great day down in Cornwall.  I started former Hennessy winner, Celestial Gold’s career at this track.  It is unique, not everyone’s cup of tea but it is a great little track, and it is nice we are able to support the West Country point to points and give our young jockeys a chance to have some rides.  My son Jack and his friend Oscar went and have caught the racing and point to point bug!  They enjoyed their day helping and leading up and especially collecting the prizes with the cup now being proudly on display in Jack’s bedroom! 

This Week

The weather promises to be better this week and not so cold so fingers crossed we get a full programme of action but there is an element of doubt over Tuesday and Wednesday’s jumps fixtures going ahead with frost still in the ground.  Even though air temperatures have risen, the very low temperatures over a few nights have left the ground needing time to warm up. 

Plumpton must pass an 8am inspection in the morning for racing to go ahead, and if it does then we have four runners, Jurancon, Ben Lilly, First Lord Du Cuet and Sirekoff.  Jurancon will appreciate a return to a left-handed track and will enjoy stepping up in distance to 2m4f.  He wears a first time tongue strap and I would like to think he will take all the beating.  Ben Lilly is a little bit of an enigma but the handicapper is giving him a chance and he is in good form at home.  Similar comments apply to First Lord Du Cuet but this is the easiest task he has faced for a while so hopefully he can go well in the first time visor and Sirekoff is our final runner of the day in the concluding handicap hurdle.  He returns having had wind sugery and I think he will enjoy the track and conditions.

We have two runners at Newbury on Wednesday, Jurancon (in case Plumpton is abandoned) and Lady Balko but the track must pass at 3pm inspection on Tuesday afternoon.  There are no inspections planned at present at Hereford although their going description is described as frozen in places and monitoring so it will be no surprise if an inspection is called at some point.  Activist in declared to run here.

On Thursday, we are likely to have runners at Wincanton and is likely to include King Turgeon in the Somerset National.  Our seven year old does have an entry at Ascot on Saturday also and we will keep an eye of declarations tracking on Tuesday morning but Wincanton is the most likely race for him.  He is in great form at home and it will be nice to get him back on the track.  He will need to improve again to win off a career high mark but it looks a good opportunity for him.

On Friday, we have entries at Windsor and Market Rasen and over the weekend, we have entries at Ascot, Haydock, Taunton, Fakenham and Windsor.  We could well see the return of Gericault Roque at either Windsor on Friday or Ascot on Saturday and I will have a few nervous sleeps before then!  He has been off with injury since finishing third in the 2023 December Gold Cup at Newbury and it has been a long road to get him back.  He is looking fantastic and in great form at home and showing all his old ability and enthusiasm and it will just be brilliant to see him in action again.  Remastered is entered in the re-scheduled Veterans chase at Market Rasen on Friday and is likely to take his chance but keep checking the Daily News on the website for all the latest news on the stable runners. 

Ascot Asks

Last week a team from Ascot racecourse’s social media department visited Pond House to do a piece on me and the yard called ‘Ascot Asks’.  It is an online series and older editions can be seen on YouTube.  I do not know what date I go live yet but keep an eye out for it and I shall let you all know when I hear!

This week, it is the Tote coming to film a piece at Pond House and it promises to be a busy week but after a lull in action in early January it is good to be back with all systems go!