- Tuesday, 24 January 2012 10:23
- Written by David Pipe
Grands Crus is a non-runner in the Argento Chase at Cheltenham on Saturday
After speaking with the owners, we have decided not to run Grands Crus at Cheltenham on Saturday. We didn’t want to give him a hard race with March just around the corner. He may run at Newbury in a three mile novices’ chase on 11th February or could go straight to the Festival. A decision on which race he will take in at the Cheltenham Festival is still to be decided and will not be made until much nearer the time.
Exciting hurdler Dynaste runs in the Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham this Saturday.
I was very pleased when a couple of winners last week equalled our seasonal total of 65 from 2010/11. With just over 3 months of the campaign remaining, hopefully we will be able to add a good few more to that tally before the end of April!
Poole Master (pictured right) really is beginning to look like a lovely recruit and he followed-up his Uttoxeter victory with a smooth success at Lingfield on Thursday under a penalty. Chris Honour was once again in the saddle and he now only has two more winners left before he rides out his claim.
Waterunder produced something of a shock success under Johnny Farrelly at Wincanton on Saturday when turning over odds-on favourite It’s A Gimme in the closing novices’ hurdle at odds of 14/1. The race was run at a farcical pace which turned into a sprint - Johnny managed to steal first run which proved vital as he prevailed by ½ length from the jolly. Hopefully the handicapper will not take the form literally as the runner-up was rated 142 – I’m afraid it probably wasn’t Richie McLernon’s finest hour.
Looking forward to the weekend we made entries yesterday (Monday) for Cheltenham on Saturday and looking through the cards I cannot wait! It features the Argento Chase and Cleeve Hurdle and should certainly be a treat for Racegoers. We entered our flying grey Grands Crus in the Argento and will take a look at the race before deciding if he takes his chance. If he does run on Saturday, win, lose or draw, we will not be making a decision on his Cheltenham Festival target until much nearer the time. As mentioned above - Grands Crus is a non-runner on Saturday.
As anticipated we also gave Dynaste an entry in the Cleeve Hurdle where he is a likely runner. He will come up against Ascot conqueror Big Buck’s again and while he faces an almost impossible task in trying to topple the reigning staying champion hurdler, he is second best according to official figures and well worthy of his place in the line-up. Don’t be surprised if ridden with more restraint he finishes a little closer to Big Buck’s this time around.
Talking of Cheltenham, there are only seven weeks left until the Festival and last Tuesday we made entries for the Champion and World Hurdles. In the Champion Hurdle we entered Bobby Ewing, while he also received an entry for the World Hurdle along with the aforementioned Dynaste and the extremely promising Our Father.
Bobby Ewing has yet to run since his purchase from the Doncaster sales with an injury 18 months ago. He has been given plenty of time by his patient owners and hopefully that patience will soon be rewarded as he is nearly ready to go. Everyone knows about his form…a ten length beating of Menorah reads very well given that opponents subsequent exploits and obviously that is the form we are going on.
It is the turn of the novice chasers today (Tuesday) when entries close for more races at the Festival. This time it we will be making entries for the Arkle Chase, RSA Chase, Jewson Novices’ Chase and the National Hunt Chase for amateur riders over four miles. Find out more about the Pond House candidates by checking back here next week.
We literally had a flying visit by David Carr of the Racing Post last Thursday! David, who helps with my Saturday column in the paper had never been in a helicopter before, so as I was on my way to Lingfield in the chopper it seemed like a good opportunity to get one crossed off his bucket list! I think David enjoyed his quick joyride, at least the colour seemed to have returned by the time he reached land again!
Above: David Carr (left) takes his maiden helicopter flight shortly before we set off for Lingfield.
Also pictured (right) is jockey Chris Honour.
