Another Break Ahead

Although truncated, it looks like being a busier week with runners at Newton Abbot on Monday, Worcester on Tuesday and  Uttoxeter on Wednesday before we have another break of ten days from jump racing.  I don’t know why race planning have deemed it wise to have two such breaks in relatively close proximity – the fragmented nature of the jumps race program at this time (not to mention the complications that have been thrown up by the unpredictability of the weather) has meant that everything is very stop-start and that isn’t much good to anybody.  I have said it before, but I still don’t understand why they don’t agree a sensible month for a complete break from jump racing – I am certain that it would be better for jockeys, trainers and most importantly the horses.

Anyway, it is what it is and we will most likely be travelling over to Ireland during the break as Premier Dane looks to hold a very decent chance in the Kerry National at Listowel on Wednesday 19^th September.  Unpenalised for his recent successes he has a very nice racing weight of 9-10 and is a likely starter – whether there will be any other runners at the meeting from Pond House I am not sure yet, I will have to take a good look through the race conditions.  Nonetheless, I will be looking forward to the start of the festival next Sunday – it continues throughout the entire week and with the famous Irish hospitality, it could get messy for anybody planning on attending all seven days!

Scanning through the program book further ahead, I noticed that there is a juvenile hurdle scheduled to take place at Worcester.  I believe I am correct in saying that this will be the first time that three year old’s have run over brush hurdles in this country.  I would imagine the winner of this race will be an embryonic chaser in the making.

I had an enjoyable afternoon at the Western Counties Veterinary Hospital’s Open Day yesterday (Sunday).  They paraded a couple of our old inmates, dual Thomas Pink and Cheltenham Festival winner Cyfor Malta (pictured left) and It Takes Time (pictured at the top of this article), a Grade One winning chaser who was placed third in the Stayers’ Hurdle and fourth in a Grand National.  They are both enjoying their retirements with Norma Hoskin and Dennis Dummett, our former head lad and I am pleased to say they were very well received by those present.  I do have some pictures and will bring those to you as soon as my son Jack will allow me to have the camera back!

While I was at the Open Day a number of my staff were in Minehead where a football team consisting of staff from Pond House, Philip Hobbs’, Paul Nicholls’ and Victor Dartnall’s stables took on a Newmarket XI.  I am pleased to say that the home team managed to edge it 2-1 in an exciting game, with our own Jamie Bargary managing to score one of the goals.  It looked like being a bit of a mismatch before the kick-off - the Newmarket Lads seem to take their football quite seriously and arrived in their own kit, while our team had to beg, borrow and steal!  Having said that, the underdogs under the expert tutelage of manager Gerry Supple (pictured right) prevailed on this occasion, so well done to all of them.

Finally, I just wanted to extend my congratulations to connections of Snow Fairy.  This incredible mare put up another great performance to land the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown on Sunday.  She defeated Nathaniel and St Nicholas Abbey and has now amassed over £4 million in prize money – an amazing feat…I certainly wouldn’t mind one like her!

Anyway, for all of the latest news from around the yard you can keep up-to-date via Chester’s Daily Chat.