- Monday, 24 March 2025 14:27
- Written by David Pipe
Rian Corcoran & MCP
The continuing dry weather has meant we have not had that many runners in the last week. The ones we have ran have all run well but a little frustratingly have not yielded a winner. Keppage was be our first runner of last week but I ended up making him a non-runner, as the ground was too quick.
Ocean Heights ran with more promise in his run at Southwell on the all-weather last week and was only beaten two lengths into fifth. The ground was even a little too quick at Chepstow for Lock Out who ran okay without ever getting properly involved with the principals.
It was a girl’s trip to Scotland for Belfrina and Walkadina as they headed north for finals of races they had both qualified for. Belfrina ran a good race on her handicap debut to be a close second carrying top weight. She was staying on close to the line and was only narrowly denied. She is a likeable mare who probably found the track sharp enough on this ground. There is a four-year-old fillies juvenile handicap hurdle at Cheltenham next month and that will now be her aim.
Walkadina, was a little too keen in the early stages of her race at Kelso on Saturday. She was always doing a little too much in the early stages and this told at the end of the race with those who raced prominently, fading towards the finish. She finished fourth and still picked up some nice prize money so it was worth our trip up there.
Gold in the Rivers put in a better performance at Newbury to be fourth, which was a step back in the right direction while Pachacuti found the ground too lively for him. Neon Moon finished fourth at Newbury on Saturday while Micornormous was second at Exeter on Sunday. Everything bar a winner in recent days!
This Week
It is a quiet start to the week with regards to runners, we did have entries at both Wincanton and Taunton but with very little rain having fallen, we decided to wait with our horses for another day. Tracks do a good job with watering but it is not the same as natural rain for the ground. If your horses like the quicker going you are fine but equally there is an extra-added element of risk.
Our first runners are likely to be at Southwell on Thursday where we know there have been good reports about their ground from their last meeting. Harley’s Pride could make her stable debut in the mare’s bumper. She finished fourth in a bumper at Punchestown in October and those who finished in front of her that day have shown a good level of form since. She has done nothing wrong since arriving with us and it will be good to get her out on the track. Missy Mole also holds and entry there in the novices handicap hurdle and if she gets in, is a likely runner.
On Friday, we just have two entries, American Sniper at Wetherby and Royal Mer at Fontwell. American Sniper’s race is a qualifier for a final at Punchestown next month. There is a big entry and because of the ratings bracket (we are 122 in a 0-120 race) it means we are the first to be balloted out if lots are declared and they go over their safety factor. There is a chance it could divide but we may need a bit of luck to get a run. Royal Mer is entered in the Fontwell Chase series final and there is some great prize money on offer. It looks the perfect race for him, having run well and finished a close second at the track last time but we would really like some rain, as he definitely prefers a softer surface. We will just have to see what happens.
At the weekend, we have entries at Stratford, Uttoxeter and Ascot but keeping checking the Daily News section of the website for all the latest news on the sable runners.
Pointing Update
We did not have any point-to-point runners over the weekend with the ground too quick for our horses at Kilworthy on Sunday. We have made entries this weekend for African Lady and Rouban at Trebudannon but we will see what the ground is like, we may wait for rain, it will rain again at some point! Well done again however to amateur Rian Corcoran who had three winners over the weekend. He had one at Milborne St Andrew on Saturday and then had another double on Sunday. He is now on eleven winners for the season and heads the national novice rider title race.
Gearoid Harney Update
Gearoid continues to recover well from the bad fall he had Fakenham but he will not be back riding in the immediate future. He is waiting for further scans but has been signed off for at least another month. He is spending a lot of time up at Oaksey House where he continues to get physio and work on his fitness. As we all know however, the best cure often for our bodies is just time, especially with a head injury and he is getting the best advice and help out there. While frustrating for him, you cannot take risks, especially with a head injury.
Retiring Horses
When horses finish their racing careers we take pride here at Pond House in finding them the best homes so that they can fulfil a full, active an enjoyable retirement in disciplines suited to their strengths. We have a few contacts that help us finding these forever homes and we are always delighted to hear news of how they are getting on. Inmates to have recently left is include, Kolisi, and Back Yourself and as you can see, they are already getting on well in their new homes. Dindin who is another who has most recently left us to go team chasing. At the age of twelve, we felt the time was right to for him to retire in good health and go on and enjoy a new career. He won thirteen races in his career and few hundred pounds shy of £250,000 in prize money. He left us last week for his new home and we look forward to hearing how he gets on. Others we have had leave previously have been Poseidon, Little Red Lion, Behind the Curtain and Veiled Secret who are all getting on well in their new lives, as you can see from the photos below.
Back Yourself Behind The Curtain
Poseidon Little Red Lion
