- Monday, 01 September 2025 10:43
- Written by David Pipe
Family Spanish Padel
I have not long returned from a family holiday in Spain and we had a great week just outside Mijas with my parents and Gemma joining us as well. We had glorious sunshine throughout and while the kids spent most of the time in the pool, we managed to fit in a little round of golf, played some padel accompanied by plenty of eating, drinking and resting! The rain had started on our return and long may that continue!
Bashful Boy was our only runner while I was away and he ran with credit again to be placed up at Musselburgh. He travelled into the race strongly and was going best 2 furlongs out but he did not find as mush when asked for his effort as I hoped. In hindsight, I think he needs to be winding up the pace from further out then the other day so younger legs do not quicken past him but he shows plenty of enthusiasm during his races and I will be disappointed if we do not get a win out of him soon. It was a valuable race and he picked up some nice prize money again and he is full of life back at home. The Cesarewitch trial at Newmarket on 20th September is likely to be his net race.
This Week
Things are quite on the racecourse in the coming days until we have Old Bridge entered on Friday in races at Bangor and Worcester. All three races he is entered in look very competitive on paper but we will try to pick the best race to give him an opportunity of winning. He is likely to get further entries at Fontwell on Sunday with his main target being the ARC summer series handicap hurdle final at Worcester towards the end of the month. Keep checking the Daily News on the website for all the latest news on the stable runners.
Racing Club Visit
This weekend we are looking forward to welcoming members of the David Pipe Racing Club to Pond House for their annual visit to the yard to meet the horses. We have over 100 people booked to attend and there is room for more should you wish to join the club and come along on Saturday and join the fun! Please get in touch with the office This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more details.
Injured Jockeys Fund/Tom O’Brien Golf Day
On Friday, we had two teams take part in the Injured Jockeys Fund/Tom O’Brien Golf day at Mendip Springs. I played in a team alongside Gemma, Gerry Supple and Ken Rixon while our other team had Jack Pipe, grandad Pete and his friends Tim and Steve. While my team finished second to our other team, probably the less said about the golf the better! The winning team on the day was that of AP McCoy, Johnno Spence and Tom O’Brien but the main aim of the day was to raise money and over £23k was raised in a good cause and it was a fun day out. Former jockey, Tom O’Brien is undergoing his own private health battle at the moment and I hope this will go some way to helping him and his family. The day was well supported by the racing community with plenty of current and former jockeys taking part. Well done to Jack Tudor who won a couple of prizes including a putting competition, which was held on the practice green afterwards.
August Weather
We had 34.5mm of rain at Pond House in August. More than August last year (27mm) and only the third lowest total since our records began in 2001. This brings our yearly rainfall for 2025 to 452mm, which is over 320mm less than this time in 2024. Having said that, it only sits in sixth place for the driest eight months of the year in the last 25 years so while we are thinking it is unusually dry, it is not! In 2011, we had only recorded 403.5mm of rain for the same period, 813.5mm is the most and that came back in 2007. While some steady persistent rain is much needed in the coming month to ensure nice ground for jumps racing in October, it will be interesting to see what we get!
Pond House Team
Navarau (FR)
Purchased as a two-year-old store in France last year, all the initial work has been done by Ed Partrdige and Lizzy Kelly. Joined us in the spring where we did a bit with them before turning him out to grass. A lovely athletic, ‘forward going’ type he goes nicely on the gallops and jumps well. He is by an up and coming French stallion and will be aimed at the National Hunt junior races, bumpers and hurdles.
Neon Moon (IRE)
Neon Moon has been a wonderful horse for his owners and us for many years. He comes back every season, wins a race or two and is very consistent. Probably gets a bit of unfair criticism at times but after he wins he tends to find himself in the grip on the handicapper and life is tougher. When he gets back to a winnable mark, he is always competitive. Won at Chepstow on his seasonal reappearance last year (his seventh career win) and a repeat of that will me most likely be his first target this time around from a two pound lower rating. Goes well fresh and prefers a sound surface. Eligible for Veterans races later in the season.
No Walkover (IRE)
He is a gorgeous big four-year-old 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. 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. He is likely to start in a bumper before going novice hurdling.
Norr’s Cross (IRE)
Failed to complete in two Irish point to points early in his career but only just lost out by the narrowest of margins in his first run in a bumper showing a great attitude. Bought at Doncaster sales in 2024 he suffered a setback the day before he was due to make his stable debut last season. He was back ready to run in the spring but the ground had dried out too much so he went on his holidays. Standing at over 17hh he is a lovely big chasing type and we were looking forward to running him last season as he goes nicely at home. It will be great to get him out to start over hurdles this winter and he could be name to follow.
Ocean Heights
Twice a winner on the flat again this summer at Doncaster and Haydock. Ran well in a couple of races after to be placed before a couple of lesser efforts. He had his first start over hurdles for twelve months at Stratford recently and ran okay but was hampered rounding the final bend and just finished out of the placings. Has run a lot of times this year and is now having a short holiday and will return to action on the all-weather during the winter. He likes Kempton and is handicapped to run well again when he returns.
Old Bridge (IRE)
Yet to win over hurdles but has been placed and capable of winning. Ran his best race to date, stepped up in trip over 2m4f at Uttoxeter to be second and backed that up with another good effort at Worcester most recently. Still just a four year old, he acts all types of ground and is admirably tough. He is entered at the end of this week with his main aim being the ARC summer series final handicap hurdle at Worcester in a few week’s time and he is likely to have a winter holiday at some point.
