- Monday, 30 March 2026 15:08
- Written by David Pipe
Chemical Warfare
Three second places came from our very few runners in the past seven days, two under rules and one in the pointing field. Best Night backed up her win at Huntingdon on her penultimate start with a solid second at Hereford. In making the running she was a little keener throughout than we would have liked but equally she looked like she bumped into one making its handicap debut. She is a tough and genuine little mare that likes better ground and so will enjoy it even more as the ground continues to dry in the coming weeks.
Saccary ran well again to be second at Uttoxeter in a similar scenario to Best Night. Dropping back in trip we made the running but his jumping was not up to his usual standards in front and then we lost out in a battle at the finish to another rival making his handicap debut. The pair of them pulled quite well clear of the third, we kept galloping to the line and the form may well work out quite well. Saccary can be winning a similar race going forwards.
Ben Lilly ran well to be second in an open point to point at Trebudannon on Sunday with Ashley Dascombe on board. This was his best run since going pointing, sticking on well behind the short priced favourite. He will be better again when the ground dries a little more. He is in good spirits at home this morning and he may go again on Easter Monday in the hunt race at our more local course of Cothelstone, just outside Taunton. Gerry Supple is booked into be starting the races that day so jockeys will have to be on their best behaviour!
We did have a couple of disappointments last week, with Indulto Rouge and Purple Owl both under performing at Southwell. Indulto Rouge was returning from wind surgery but it appears not to have helped as we had hoped. The specialists have had another look at him since the race and we should be able to do more to help him. Purple Owl returned not quite right after the race so we do have excuses for both horses and long term they will bounce back. The same can be said for Bras D’or who ran well below expectations at Wetherby and we know he is better than that.
This Week
This week our first runners will be at Wincanton on Wednesday. Harry Junior will be looking to follow up his win from Exeter last time in the three mile novices handicap hurdle. He won at Lingfield earlier this season and returned from a winter break to win at Exeter last time. The handicapper has nudged him up a little more but the track and ground will be fine and he should run well. Mancero has run slightly better in his last two starts but our French hurdle winner needs to show more from a relenting handicap mark this time.
On Thursday, we have Parchment and Jaipaletemps entered at Chepstow and we will decide if they run or not on Tuesday morning. There is no jumps racing on Good Friday and we should have had action at Cheltenham but more details below!
On Saturday, Neon Moon is an intended runner in the middle distance veterans chase final at Haydock and Rian Corcoran will ride. It is a race I have had planned for him for a while and the track and ground will suit. He is back down to a competitive mark, with Rian taking the seven pounds off I would hope he can run well. Over the weekend, we also have entries at Newton Abbot’s first fixture of the year on Saturday and at Huntingdon as well. Keep checking the Daily News on the Website for all the latest news on the stable runners.
Pony Club Pony Racing Day
On Friday, Jack has his pony, Little Chiefy were entered at Cheltenham and the plan was to run. There was whole day of Pony Club racing and he had an entry in the 148cm open race. It would have been our first experience of such a day and we have been told it is a fantastic day as well as the actual races the kids get to go into the weighing room, have some media training and in general find out about what happens behind the scenes at Cheltenham. It should have been a great experience for Jack and he was very much looking forward to riding on this hallowed turf but unfortunately news broke this morning that there would be no more action at Cheltenham this season. The pony racing day on Friday, the two day April meeting and the hunter chase evening in May have all been cancelled at Cheltenham to allow drainage works to take place on the home straight. There was of course the controversy back in January when a hole appeared and that was caused by a collapsed drain. Further consultation with experts since means that further upgrades need to take place and with the best timing considered to be getting it done now so that everything will repair and be ready for racing in the autumn. The hunter chase evening has been moved to Warwick while some of the other races from Cheltenham are being moved to elsewhere. Fingers crossed the are hoping to move the entire pony racing day to a different track. While there is only one Cheltenham, if will be great for Jack and the other kids to hopefully be able to take part in the day elsewhere on Friday.
March Weather
As March draws to a close we can reflect on the weather which has been drier than of late but wetter still than the same period twelve months ago. Just under 40mm of rain has fallen this month compared to a total of just eight last March. This has been good for racing and the racecourses but we still find ourselves wanting more rain to keep the ground nice until the end of the season. A few of our horses are now on holidays, those who like the heavy going but we still have lots on who will want safe ground on the softer side of good. Our current running total rainfall for 2026 is 462.5mm which is nearly 220mm less more than to the same point last year. Looking back, we have had some very wet March’s over the years but what we have had this year is very comparable to a lot of years and again some have been drier. The most ever rain we have had in March came in 2023 when we had 163mm, while the driest was last March. We did have a slightly wetter April last year compared to other April’s so we will just have to see what the coming month brings!
Easter Bonnet Competition
My mother set the yard a challenge of an Easter bonnet competition and this Saturday the offerings of the staff will be judge anonymously by Amanda Barrie. While we had to educate some of our younger members as to what and Easter bonnet was and who the judge was, they are taking it all in good spirits with a big cash prize up for grabs! We have a lot of very competitive staff members and I know there has already been a lot of work put in by some. I shall look forward to unveiling some photos and the prize winners next week!
Chemical Warfare
I am saddened to inform you all that we had to have Chemical Warfare put to sleep last week due to deteriorating health. As many of you will remember, he had a terrific campaign for us last season and he won eight races from 14 starts and was perhaps unlucky to have had another one when falling late on when holding every chance at the time. New to the yard prior to that, his first win came over hurdle from a mark of 75 but he proved to be a better chaser and was rated 120 at best. He also was awarded a Timeform Special Recognition award for his achievements which meant a lot to us and his owners. He had two runs this winter following a summer holiday and he was struggling to be anywhere like the horse we knew he was. He was always characterized by his grit, determination and will to win but this was not showing on the racecourse. We had him checked over by our vets and they discovered an issue with his heart. He was treated and then rested and he loved going out in the paddock for grass daily and the plan was for him to retire at home with his owners but within the last couple of weeks he really lost his sparkle and we were left with no option on veterinary advice to the kindest thing for him. He was a real character who was loved by all of us, especially by his owners and Mandy who looked after him. He will be sadly missed but leaves us with some wonderful memories.
