- Monday, 03 November 2025 15:28
- Written by David Pipe
It was the perfect start to the hurdling career of Gentleman Toboot at Newton Abbot last week after he made a winning debut under Jack Tudor. His jumping was a little novicey at times, including the last two flights of hurdles, which was not ideal, but he showed his class to win going away at the line. He will have learnt a lot from that experience and will be seen to even better effect on a more galloping track over further in time, but this was a good starting point. There are no immediate plans with him but he has come out of the race well and we shall look for another similar type of novice hurdle in a couple of weeks’ time.
This Week
Old Bridge was our first runner of the week at Hereford on Monday and he ran well to be a close second.
Kingston Queen will make her hurdling debut at Chepstow on Wednesday in the 2m3f maiden hurdle. She brings some high-class bumper form to the table and is another I hope can be amongst the leading novices this season, especially in the mare’s decision. She has won an Irish point to point and has schooled well at home, she shows great attitude and heart in all she does. She will probably improve a bit for the run whatever she does this week but it will be good to get her campaign underway.
Thanksforthehelp and Gold in the Rivers have entries in the Pertemps qualifiers at Newbury on Thursday and at Aintree on Saturday while we have a few entries at Exeter on Friday. The plan is for King Turgeon to try to defend his crown in the Grand Sefton chase over the National fences at Aintree on Saturday. He was a joy to watch when jumping round there twelve months ago and this has been the long-term plan. He had a terrific start to last season but his form tailed off in his final two runs but there were excuses for this and he has had a wind op during the summer. He seems in terrific form at home and while he is racing from a mark twelve pounds higher than in this race last year, fresh is the best time to catch him and providing the ground does not get too testing I would hope he has a very good chance.
We have several entries at Ffos Las on Sunday so keep checking the Daily News on the website for the latest information on the stable runners.
New Recruits Looking for New Owners
Leanne, Jack and I were at Newmarket sales last week and while we did not buy any on the days we were up there, we had picked out and seen some for later in the week and secured them via online bidding.
Way of Stars is a lovely three-year-old gelding by Sea the Moon from the Andrew Balding yard who has a rating of 87 on the flat. He was a winner at Goodwood this summer, has several placings to his name and acts on any ground so is a nice dual-purpose prospect going forwards. We managed to buy him for 68,000 guineas and that in the current climate looks good value. He is settling in well since arriving and has already began his jumping practice in the loose school and shows a nice bit of scope. He is for sale and if you would like more details please do get in touch.
Way of Stars
Cynthia is the second new addition to the team and she is a nice three-year-old filly by Sottsass. She is a lightly raced filly who has been placed second twice over staying trips on the flat, including at Nottingham quite recently over 1m6f on testing ground. She has a BHA rating of 63 and is one who again can mix hurdling and flat runs going forwards. She seems very straightforward and has a nice temperament since arriving and shown natural ability in the loose school already. She is also looking for a new owner and at 27,000 guineas, she appears to be good value. For more information, please do email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Cynthia
Windbeneathmywings
Windbeneathmywings will not be making his hurdling debut until the New Year after meeting with a setback in training. Plans are currently on hold and it is a shame but these things do happen unfortunately.
Strictly Champions
Well done to Tom and Sara Malone who were crowned Racing Welfare Strictly Come Dancing South Champions on Sunday evening at Newbury racecourse. Leanne and I, Gemma and Gerry Supple were among nearly 400 guests watching eight couples perform a dance they had been rehearsing for weeks. It was a great evening hosted by Mike Cattermole and Mattie Batchelor and the judges were professional dancer Orla Jordan, BBC sports presenter Chris Hollins who won the 2009 show on the telly and Richard Phillips. Former England cricketer and Strictly winner Darren Gough was on hand to present the prize to the winning couple. Tom and Sara performed the Cha Cha Cha and topped the judges votes but the full result was decided by public text voting and the event was live streamed as well. Everyone did a fantastic job and full credit to all those who took part which included trainers Dan Skelton, Warren Greatrex, Tim Vaughn and Jamie Snowden as well as flat jockey Finley Marsh. All the participants had done their own fundraising and particularly well done to Tom and Sarah and the Skelton’s who raised about £50,000 between them. The Racing Wefare team put on a fantastic evening and I would imagine they have raised a lot of money, with part 2 in the North, taking place at York racecourse next weekend.
Tom & Sara Malone - Strictly Champions
October Weather
71.5mm of rain fell at Pond House in October, which we recorded in the space of ten days so once again it was a dry month. In fact, it was the driest October we have had since 2018 and it was well under half the amount of rainfall that we had in October 2024. We recorded 182.5mm twelve months ago over the space of twenty days but that was in fact one of the largest amounts of rain we have had in any October since our records began 25 years ago. Total rainfall for the year now reads 646mm which is just over 500mm less than we have for the same period in 2024. We are not quite as dry as in 2022 but it is below what we tend to yet by this point in the year. It is quite unusual for racecourses to have to water at this time of year but that is what is happening to try and help Wincanton’s Badger Ales chase meeting go ahead following the abandonment of their seasonal opener. We are due some help from above in the coming days which is also much needed for Exeter and their Haldon Gold cup meeting on Friday, let’s just hope the predicted rain does come.
