Consigliere_Ayr_web

Unfortunately following yesterday's National Hunt fixture at Ayr, it is back to being a blank jumps day today, although we do have two all-weather flat meetings at Kempton and Lingfield to keep us entertained.  The stable has one runner, Purple 'N Gold who returns to the scene of his latest success in the 6.35pm race at Kempton tonight - he steps up a couple of furlongs in trip but shapes as though it shouldn't be a problem and he will be partnered by young Willy Twiston-Davies who takes a handy 5lbs off his back.

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Snow_team_jan13

                The Chain Gang!

It snowed heavily at Pond House from 2pm yesterday afternoon and we have about 5" of snow on the ground this morning!  The gallops were covered but the snow still had to be cleared from on top and our snow clearing team are pictured above!  They did a great job and click on the read more link below to see the result of their hard work which meant the gallops were open for use as usual.  Thankfully our lorry left for Ayr yesterday lunchtime and made an over night stop at Carlisle.  Racing at Ayr is now subject to at 10.45am inspection so fingers crossed racing will take place.  Racing is on however at Lingfield and Kempton but most of the tracks did have a bit of snow overnight.  Further down the road from Pond House there was snow in Torbay and the traffic came to a standstill at one point!  Mind you, we have yet to see any snow in Brixham as yet!  David has three runners at Ayr this afternoon, weather permitting.  Kings Palace is making his hurdles debut after two very nice runs in bumpers.  Top Wood was a good second at Haydock last time out and is looking to go one better this afternoon while our third runner, Consigliere is also loking to do the same after finishing runner up at Wincanton last time.  All three should handle the soft ground and we are hopeful they will all run well.  

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first_lot_gallops_jan_13

After Lingfield passed their inspection this morning, we have two all-weather meetings on the level to look forward to at Wolverhampton and Lingfield.  Sadly once again it is a blank day for jump racing although there is a remote chance that both Ayr and Exeter could go ahead tomorrow.  Ayr was raceable yesterday while Exeter have snow on the track but it is raining at present and temperatures are fairly mild - let's just hope there is no further snow or freezing temperatures tonight.

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I guess we should be grateful for small mercies and the good news is that Wolverhampton gets the go-ahead after passing a 6.30am inspection - that is saying something when I am glad of an all-weather card being on, but it was a bit boring yesterday when there was no racing taking place at all.  The news is not so good from Kempton where they have abandoned early following further snow and frost overnight...I guess they should call it 'almost all weather' racing?!

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Today, hopefully there are two meetings on, one on the all-weather at Kempton plus a jumps card at Fairyhouse.  We want Kempton to take place as David has a runner in the 3.55pm race.  Purple 'N Gold was a winner at the track last time out and Willie Twiston-Davies is on board.  Our four year old was put up five pounds for his latest win but Willie claims a valuable five pounds off his back and fingers crossed he should run well again this afternoon.  Can you believe that in England we are struggling to get meetings on because of the weather, cold and snow, and yet in Australia they are having similar problems but just caused by excessive heat!  The temperatures reached 43c which is scorching!  If only we gould get a little bit of that heat to drift across the world to us then we would all be okay!

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Snow_Pond_House

We are not going to see any jumps racing in England this weekend after Ascot, Haydock, Taunton and Towcester were all called off yesterday.  The snow certainly got heavy and that put pay to all the jumps cards and even Lingfield on the all-weather today has been abandoned.  Kempton is our last remaining hope for any racing action today, they are inspecting at 9am so keep your fingers crossed for that!  Lingfield was also called off yesterday with a lot of snow on the course and it looked like even a tractor got stuck trying to get the snow off!  A few of our staff had trouble getting to work yesterday but most are back today.  We had a little more snow in the night and are now totalling about a 3" covering everywhere and temperatrues are just at -2c at 7.30am.  The yard is down quite a small county lane and no gritters or snow ploughs come near!  Our big indoor canter is a god send in this kind of weather and we do have a snow blower which is out on the gallops this morning removing the snow from the all-weather gallop.  Years ago I can remeber MCP training winners on an indoor ring that was no bigger than 20 yards across.  They don't know they have been born today, sounds like I am getting old!

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Snow_Main_Yard2_Dec_10

The weather forecast has been very accurate at Pond House and we have woken up to the yard blanketed in snow!  It is only 2-3cm deep at the moment but it continues to come down quite heavily.  The majority of staff have braved it into work this morning and it is day like these that our covered indoor canter come in very handy!  Racing has been abandoned at Chepstow but Lingfield and Wolverhampton on the all-weatehr are on.  It did snow at my home in Brixham but nothing has settled as yet as the ground is too wet! The outlook for racing at the weekend looks a bit bleak.  Haydock and Taunton are already off for tomorrow while Towcester abandoned yesterday for Sunday.   Ascot was raceable at 8am this morning for tomorrow although they are forecast snow and are inspecting the course at 4.30pm this afternoon so keep an eye out for news of this meeting.

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