- Monday, 10 February 2025 16:01
- Written by David Pipe
Sidi Ismael Winner at Chipley Point to Point
We have not had many runners in the last week on the track but we did have four runners at our local Chipley Park point to point on Saturday, which yielded two winners for the team. Fighter Allen won the Mixed Open and Sidi Ismael the novice riders race, both were ridden by our young amateur Rian Corcoran and this was his first ever double so many congratulations to him.
It was a little strange as both races were called dead heats! It is quite rare to get a dead heat but to have two on the same day with same jockey and trainer involved is very unusual but both horses have ‘1sts ‘ besides their names so it doesn’t really matter! Fighter Allen is now a step closer to Cheltenham and/or Aintree qualification and is for sale should anyone be interested in owning him! We have made an entry for him at Bukfastleigh point to point this coming Sunday so we will see how he is during the week before deciding if he runs or we may wait for a hunter chase at Taunton. Martin McIntyre rode our other two pointers, African Lady made a promising debut in this sphere to be third in the maiden and looks a winner in waiting between the flags (also for sale!). Royal Defender built on the promise of his Wadebridge fourth to be second in the Restricted. He probably bumped into a useful rival and can be winning soon.
Unfortunately, Mia Holmes did not get very far on her first point-to-point ride, being unshipped on the bend early in the race. She is absolutely fine which is the main thing and is hoping to have another go very soon!
This Week
On Tuesday, we have just the one runner over jumps at Lingfield, Royal Mer. It was his best run of the season to date last time out Uttoxeter when he finished third. He will enjoy the testing conditions this time even more and hopefully he will not be too far away.
On Wednesday, Nini Star makes her hurdling debut at Hereford. She has some fair form on the flat in France and has schooled well at home. Lock Out, hated the heavy ground at Exeter last time and can hopefully get back on track this afternoon in less testing conditions while American Sniper heads back to Wetherby where his finished third on Boxing Day. Callum Pritchard rides him again today claiming a valuable five pounds and he should not be too far away.
Later in the week, River Run Free is likely to head to Leicester on Thursday. He won nicely on handicap debut at Lingfield last time. The handicapper has put him up six pounds for that win but I hope there is more improvement to come.
Big Weekend Coming Up
On Saturday, we have entries at three jumps meetings, Ascot, Haydock and Wincanton. Neon Moon and Jilaijone have entries at Ascot, they look competitive looking handicaps at entries stage as you would expect but keep checking the Daily News on the website for the latest information on the stables runners. Eden Du Houx is entered in the Veterans chase at Haydock while we confirmed Gericault Roque for the Grand National trial handicap chase. Top weight, Royal Pagaille was also confirmed which means he will have to give more than a stone to all of his rivals if he runs and we are slightly out of the weights at present but so are several of the field.
Musselburgh is the only National Hunt meeting on Sunday but I shall be heading to Buckfastleigh where I shall probably be more nervous than on a normal days racing! My son, Jack will me making his Pony Racing debut in the 138cm race. As many of you know, it is only in the last 14 months that he has really got into racing and riding and now he is hooked! Pony Tandy, joined our family last summer and she has really got him going and has taught him to ride, she is good but you have to be able to ride as she needs little excuse to think she is in charge! She is a little 13hh grey Connemara, not a racing pony so we have no great expectations about where she will finish in the race but it will just be a good experience for them both. Jack took her to Chipley point-to-point course on Sunday for experience, David Noonan led them round aboard First Lord Du Cuet, and David was very good at giving Jack advice. We will see if he remembers any of it on Sunday but the main thing is they enjoy it. Jack has aspirations of a racing pony in the future but I tell him one-step at a time! He has been riding his pony out after school most days and he rides up the gallops on Saturday mornings so they both should be fit enough and we will see what happens!
Jack on pony Tandy
(thank you to Brian Phipps Photographer for the lovely photo - one of many!)
Cheltenham Festival Marquee
We have a marquee at the Cheltenham Festival each year, which provides a welcome space to get away from the crowds. You have an allocated seat at a table with easy access to betting, a bar and food and get to see me and my father up close and personal! We have jockeys and people like ITV presenter Matt Chapman come in before racing and talk through the day ahead with tips and it is a great base from which to enjoy a day at the Festival. We are sold out on Tuesday and Wednesday but do have spaces available to buys badges for Thursday or Friday. If you would like to know more information or buy badges, please do get in touch with the office – david@davidpipe.com. Please note, our badges do not gain you access to the racecourse itself, you do need to buy your own entrance badges form the racecourse direct of at least Club level.
Gearoid Harney Update
It has been just over three weeks since Gearoid Harney had that horrible fall on the bend at Fakenham. He is making good progress and looks much better in himself but is likely to be out of action for a little while longer yet. He spent time at Oaksey House in Lambourn last week and hoped to be back riding in the coming days but the professionals are not totally happy with his scans just yet so further rest and rehabilitation is needed for now.
Eton Mes Form Boost
Last week in my column, I mentioned the horse ETON MES who is for sale. I had a few enquiries but he still is for sale! He has only raced once in his life and that form got a significant boost at Exeter on Sunday. The horse that finished just in front of him that day, Kripticjim bolted up in a good style in a competitive race back at the track. I shall re-post details of Eton Mes to remind you all and look forward to hearing from you! 01884 840715 or email david@davidpipe.com
He is a lovely big four-year-old bay gelding measuring 16.3hh. He has had one start in a bumper for Rod Millman and finished third at Exeter on New Year’s Day. He ran a little green that day but was doing his best work at the end and he was only beaten four lengths. He was originally bought to run on the flat but when you see the size and physique of him you can understand why they decided he was more of a National Hunt horse! He is by the sire Expert Eye who stands in South Africa but has produced jumps winners from not that many runners. Eton Mes and is half-brother to winners on the flat and having only recently arrived with us at Pond House he is settling in well and shows good ability and a great attitude on the gallops. He is quite a laid-back character and very easy to deal with which stands him in good stead for the future. The plan will be to run him in another bumper or two in the coming months before turning him away and looking forward to novice hurdling in the autumn. He is available to buy for £45,000 + VAT but we may consider and half or quarter share should anyone be interested please do get in touch.
