- Monday, 12 May 2025 15:04
- Written by David Pipe
Fergus Gillard Retires from Saddle
We just had a couple of runners last week over jumps and Chemical Warfare didn’t quite see out the distance of 3m5f in the Norfolk National at Fakenham so we will bring him back in trip next time. Nini Star put her disappointing hurdles debut well behind her and ran respectably at Worcester and can build on that again going forwards.
Bashful Boy put up a very creditable performance in the Chester Cup on Friday, finishing a never nearer eighth, staying on strongly and doing all his best work at the end. Unfortunately, for him and us, he did not come out of the stalls as fast of some of those around him and found himself towards the rear of the field early. Jockey Aiden Brookes did the right thing, you have to sit and suffer for a lot of the race in this position as you cannot afford to go wide around this tight track but it is very hard to come from behind and win. He stuck to the inside rail throughout and stayed on nicely off the home bend and was only beaten eight lengths. He picked up a little bit of prize money in a very competitive race and showed all his old enthusiasm and so there will be plenty more fun to be had with him over the summer.
This Week
Our first runners of this week come at Worcester on Tuesday where we run Sirekoff, Chauffeur Driven and Pub Crawl. Sirekoff ran a good race to be second at Bangor last time and while the handicapper has nudged him back up two pounds for this run, if he reproduces that effort he should go close. Chauffeur Driven has bits of form that would give him a chance in this race but does need to pull his socks up and Pub Crawl ran well on his first run back from a break last time at Sedgefield. He is yet to win over hurdles but shows us enough at home to think he can win a race of this nature if he puts his best foot forwards!
We are quiet on the runner’s front this week after Tuesday Ocean Heights could run on the flat at either Newbury on Friday or Doncaster on Saturday.
At the weekend, we have recent Punchestown winner Thanksforthehelp entered in the staying handicap hurdle at Uttoxeter on Saturday and Old Bridge and Micronormous at Bangor also on Saturday. Old Bridge, has placed form in Ireland and could make his stable debut in the NH maiden hurdle over two miles. He has settled in well since arriving and goes nicely while Mirconormous has an entry in the three-mile handicap chase on the card. She has had a wind operation since finishing second at Exeter on her last run and is in good form at home. Keep checking the Daily News on the website for all the latest news on the stable runners.
Pointing News
We had one runner at Upcott Cross point to point on Sunday where Rouban finished fourth in the Restricted race with Rian Corcoran on board. That was his first run for us in point to points and it was a respectable effort, which he can build on next time. He may run back at the same track on Bank Holiday Monday towards the end of the month. Rian had lots of placings but no winners this weekend but is still nicely clear in the National Novice Riders Championship.
This coming weekend it is the first of three fixtures at Bratton Down, which is not too far from us. Royal Defender has an entry but we will have to see what the ground is like later in the week before deciding about plans. If anyone would like a good evening out this week, can I suggest Cothelstone point to point on Wednesday evening. We do not have any entries ourselves but there are plenty of entries for the seven race card, which gets underway at 4.30pm.
Our Jockey’s
There is no real update on either of our jockeys currently on the sidelines with both Gearoid Harney and Martin ‘Fly’ McIntyre both still off work and being aided in their recovery by the injured jockeys Fund’s facilities at both Oaksey House in Lambourn and the Hub at Taunton. Fly is now waiting an MRI on his shoulder before he knows more while it is just a case to time with Gearoid but both keep in touch with us and are in good spirits.
Fergus Gillard
I must just take this opportunity to wish Fergus Gillard a happy retirement from the saddle. He retired quietly at the end of the season having ridden 93 career winners, a lot of them for us when he was based here at Pond House. He started locally in the point-to-point field gaining valuable experience, just as Rian is now doing before turning conditional. He rode 52 winners for me. He was a naturally talented rider with a great racing brain and he was very laid back character! Like me however, he is very tall, too tall and controlling his weight was always going to be difficult. He had a great association with the horse Main Fact when he was a seven-pound claiming jockey winning four races in 2020 and the horses amazing successful run culminated in them winning the valuable stayers handicap hurdle at Haydock in November that year. As we all know, when jockeys start to lose their claim rides are more difficult to come by and it was a hard decision for him when he left us to join Dan Skelton to try a new challenge in 2023. We talked everything through, he left on good terms and he kept in touch and continued to ride out for us when he could. I was delighted to give him a Cheltenham winner with American Sniper at the November meeting that year and keep our association going. He is still only 23 years of age now and has been my youngest daughter, Martha’s favourite jockey since he wowed her in my kitchen in the first few days of him joining as a 16 year old! While I believe he is taking some time out before deciding what comes next, I would like to wish him well for the future. He was a very good jockey but he is an even nicer young man and a great credit to his family.
April Weather
Things continue to remain dry weather wise but we did have 75mm of rain at Pond House during April. This seems to be about average for time of year but following an exceptionally dry March, we just notice it more. From 1st March to 30th April 2024, we had over 200mm of rain; this time around, we are well below 100mm. Having said this, we have had more now than this period in 2021! Total rainfall for the year to date is well below last year but we are actually well ahead of 2021 and 2022. What it all means, I do not know but it is interesting to look back. We could really do with some rain but I am sure, when it comes, it will not stop!
