A Great Grey Weekend!

My three winners from Cheltenham on Friday (l-r) Grands Crus, Swing Bill & Decoy

Friday turned out to be a day to remember, with Swing Bill landing the opening race of Cheltenham’s Open Meeting, the amateur rider’s handicap chase under seventeen year old Mr Tom Bellamy. Tom gave our grey a smashing ride on his debut at Prestbury Park and Swing Bill proved a willing partner, going one place better than twelve months previously. I am sure that it is a day the young jockey will never forget and I am certain that will be the case for the remainder of his family, especially proud father Robert, who is the clerk of the course at Towcester. Robert worked at Pond House many years ago and I will refrain from causing him further embarrassment by adding to the masses who have already proclaimed his son to be a far superior jockey (needless to say, he is!).

Decoy was given a fine ride from Conor O’Farrell in the boy’s race, stealing a clear advantage coming down the hill, before holding on in a desperate finish from Semi-Colon. That success moves Conor into a share of the lead in the conditional jockey’s table and I cannot for the life of me understand why more people are not putting him up. He is excellent value for his 3lbs claim and clearly has a very bright future ahead of him.

Despite the earlier winners, I was still unable to relax and fully enjoy them until stable star Grands Crus had competed in the closing novices’ chase. High expectations surrounding his chasing debut meant that it was more a case of relief when he had completed the course. Looking back, I am extremely satisfied with the way he settled, travelled and jumped (with the exception of one mistake at the fourth last). He had schooled brilliantly at home, but until you get them on the racecourse you can never truly be sure, but now we can start to plan ahead confidently. He could return to Cheltenham next month, or perhaps go to Newbury during the Hennessy meeting, but one thing is for sure, he will not be contesting the Betfair Chase at Haydock on Saturday…not this year at least! With his speed and stamina, it leaves us plenty of options for the future.

Great Endeavour produced an incredible performance to land the Paddy Power Gold Cup on Saturday (our third grey winner of the meeting) under a vintage ride from Timmy Murphy. Despite going through the last fence he still won by an impressive seven lengths and is now prominent in the markets to follow-up in the Hennessy at Newbury. I am delighted to get this particular monkey off my back - I have been reminded on countless occasions that my father won the race eight times, so to be able to join him as a victor of this great race is something very special. I would also like to thank Paddy Power for their continued support of the meeting and their most generous sponsorship – it is most appreciated.

The Hennessy trip is an unknown quantity for Great Endeavour, but with only a 4lbs penalty for his Paddy Power success, I think it is fair to say that he will never get in another handicap with that sort of mark again. The alternative could be the December Gold Cup at Cheltenham in which he was just touched off last season.

The yard could not be in better form at present and only this afternoon (Monday) we have enjoyed further success with a double at Plumpton courtesy of Notus de la Tour and Wings Of Icarus. Notus de la Tour was once again foot perfect on his second start over fences – I am really impressed by him, he is not over-extravagant but is extremely neat, professional and efficient at his fences. While he has probably not beaten much again this afternoon, he still seems likely to take high rank among the novices’ this season.

I was delighted to get a winner for “Shirl And The Girls” when Wings of Icarus landed the concluding bumper under another fine ride from Timmy Murphy. The horse is owned by David Johnson’s wife Shirley, his daughter Lisa and daughter-in-law Claire – I have never known pressure like it!

Finally, I would also like to extend my thanks to Exeter racecourse for the welcome they afforded Lough Derg at their meeting on Wednesday. Although he couldn’t trouble the judge on the day, he was still presented with a huge box of polos…it is the first time I have seen something like that done and it was a very touching gesture and illustrates how fondly “Douglas” is regarded by fans of racing.