- Thursday, 24 March 2011 08:33
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
I didn't realise that John Gosden trained horses for Liz Taylor, the superstar actress who sadly passed away yesterday. Apparently she had horses in training with John when he trained in Los Angeles and he said, "She loved her horses and was the perfect owner, Elizabeth liked nothing better than coming to the stables to feed the horses carrotts and sugar lumps, if she could have run a petting zoo for horses, that would have been perfect for her". The film that everyone remembers of course is National Velvet, where she won the Grand National and was then disqualified when they fond out that she was a girl - I bet that film will be on the televsion again shortly, especially with Aintree only a fortnight away.
- Wednesday, 23 March 2011 08:04
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
If I owned a rocking horse I would put Conor O'Farrrell on it and what is more I would have a few quid on as well! It seems that the red-hot young Irishman can win on just about anything at the moment and yesterday he steered Laustra Bad to his first success in nearly four years at Exeter. I wouldn't be at all surprised to see him turn out again under a penalty before the handicapper has a chance to reassess him and try to stop him from winning for another four years!
- Tuesday, 22 March 2011 08:19
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
Following his great success in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, unsurprisingly it is Long Run that now appears at the head of the order in the BHA handicappers ratings for staying chasers. His new mark has gone up by 3lbs to 182, putting him ahead of the likes of Denman, Kauto Star and last year's winner Imperial Commander. Indeed, Imperial Commander has been dropped by 15lbs to a new mark of 170 - that is quite a hefty decrease and maybe now we will see him in something like the Hennessy at Newbury next season?
- Monday, 21 March 2011 08:28
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
What a great week for Conor O'Farrell. On Thursday he won the Pertemps Handicap Hurdle Final on his first ever ride at the Cheltenham Festival and now he has landed the Midlands Grand National at Uttoxeter aboard Minella Four Star - only his second winner over fences! Our other runner, Gentle Ranger also ran creditably to finish fourth. All in all, an amazing week - I notice that both Junior and Minella Four Star were purchased reasonably from Alan King's yard - it just shows what a change of scenery can do...if you have a horse that needs freshening up, perhaps you should consider sending it to Pond House?!
- Sunday, 20 March 2011 00:00
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
Looking back at the Cheltenham Festival, I couldn't help but notice how there were more cameramen waiting to take pictures than normal. I thought they were waiting for David or MCP but then I found out the real reason...they were waiting for Katie Price (Jordan)! I suppose she has far better form than the people from Pond House! I know she has a couple of notable assets, but it really does amaze me how people like her continue to make so much money.
- Saturday, 19 March 2011 08:17
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
At the start of the week David said that he would take one winner at the Cheltenham Festival, well I am sure that he will be delighted with two winners as well as a number of places. All in all it was an excellent Festival for the Pond House team and in particular I thought that Buena Vista put up an outstanding performance. He has now been to the Festival seven times and has never finished out of the first six (6th 2005 Festival Bumper, 3rd 2006 Supreme Novices Hurdle, 6th 2007 Arkle Chase, 5th 2008 Pertemps Hurdle, 2nd 2009 Pertemps Hurdle, WON 2010 Pertemps Hurdle, WON 2011 Pertemps Hurdle)...a truly amazing performance.
- Friday, 18 March 2011 07:57
- Written by Chester Barnes
What a day for David at the Festival yesterday, all the horses ran well. In the first race Mr Thriller was a creditable sixth and then came Buena Vista! Our ten year old gave young Conor O'Farrell a great ride and won by four lengths. It was Conor's first ever ride at the Festival and what a ride he gave our gelding from the front. David and MCP went through the video of last years race with Conor and told him to make all, he certainly did that and now Buena Vista has won this race two years in a row. There was a wonderful reception coming back into the winners enclosure and he truly is an amazing horse. This was his seventh visit to the Festival in a row, his second win and he also has some places to his name as well. Charteux was still in contention 2 out and ran a decent enough race and the World Hurdle was a great race between Big Bucks and Grands Crus. Conor O'Farrell post Pertemps - Audio Interview here
