- Monday, 14 July 2025 14:25
- Written by David Pipe
No Walkover & Windbeneathmywings
I am currently in Portugal with Leanne and the children and it is lovely to be away for a few days as when I return the horses will all be in from their holidays and it is a busy time ahead.
This Week
Hammer Dan is entered in two races at Worcester on Thursday, handicaps over 2m4f and 2m7f and he is likely to run in one of these. He has run well to finish second in both of his starts this summer and it would be great to get his head in front, so we will try to pick the best opportunity for him. His wins and form have been over distances of 2m6f or more recently but is a strong traveller, is not short of speed and the faster pace will also help him to settle better. He will also have an entry at Newton Abbot on Sunday along with Ocean Heights and Old Bridge so keep checking the Daily News on the website for all the latest information about stable runners.
Work Experience
Jack has now finished school for the summer and he did some work experience with Tom Malone Bloodstock last week and enjoyed a trip to the Newmarket Horses In Training Sales. He went through the catalogue beforehand and did his homework. He picked out a few horses to look at and he had a set budget to buy one. Things did not fall right this time, so he did not manage to buy one but it was a good experience and he is looking forward to learning more about the bloodstock side of things over the summer.
We have multiple requests each year from schools for work experience and we take has many of the applicants as we can. We have had some already is recent weeks and actually have students from three different local schools here now. While like everything in life, some are here just pleased to be not to be in school, while most are generally very interested in horses and racing. From the work experience kids over the years, several have returned to do Saturday or holiday work, which has led on to some becoming members of staff when they actually leave school. It is important to give everyone opportunities and is part of the reason we are very lucky with staff and do not often have to advertise looking for new members to join our team.
James Shaw
While our team of staff remains relatively unchanged for the season ahead, Amy Clarke is a member of staff to have left us this summer. She did just over a season at Pond House but is not sure racing his for her and has moved back closer to her parents in Nottinghamshire. We are pleased to announce however, that James Shaw will be joining our team next month. James finished runner up to Rian Corcoran in the novice point-to-point rider’s standings in the West Country last season and has ridden 17 winners between the flags. He has a Cat B Amateur licence and will be a valuable asset to our team.
Equine Team
Last week, I mentioned about some new horses to have arrived from France, over the coming weeks I shall tell you about a few more we have acquired during the summer that are exciting new recruits to the Pond House Team as well as give updates on some of our more established horses.
No Walkover
He is a gorgeous big four-year-old son of Poet’s Word who was bought privately after he finished second in an Irish point to point at Sladdagh Farms in February. He can be considered a slightly unlucky loser that day when he finished a neck second to a horse called Cristal D’estruval. He got to the front just before the last fence but jumped left and the jockey lost his iron and they lost valuable momentum and he was headed close home. The winner was sold at the Cheltenham Festival sale for big money in March. He is from the family of Wishfull Thinking and looks to have an exciting future ahead. We did a bit with him before turning him away for his summer holidays but is now back in and being ridden walking and trotting. He is likely to start in a bumper before going novice hurdling.
Indulto Rouge
Is a four-year-old chestnut son of French stallion Beaumac De Houelle. He has won his only start in an Irish point to point at Ballindenisk for Cormac Doyle. He was very impressive in victory, winning by 18 lengths eased down and he has been bought privately and will carry the colours of Brocade Racing. While he arrived here and went straight out to grass, the Irish point-to-point website suggests he has the ideal mix of stamina and speed and we look forward to finding out more about him in the coming weeks. He is another likely to start in bumpers before going hurdling this season.
Windbeneathmywings
Has recovered well from the injury that forced him to miss the Champion Bumper at this year’s Cheltenham Festival. That has fully healed and fingers crossed there should be no repercussions problems relating to this going forwards. He has summered well at grass and is now back in doing some roadwork. He is a very exciting novice hurdler for the season ahead.
