- Tuesday, 22 March 2011 08:19
- Written by Chelsea Morgan
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 Morgan
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 Morgan
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 Morgan
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
- Thursday, 17 March 2011 08:26
- Written by Chester Barnes
We had a full house in the marquee yesterday and we had Elder and Gaie Scouller celebrating their winner Bostons Angel in the RSA chase. It got very emotional as Elder's late father Philip bred the horse so it was a very special day for them all. Elder has a runner today for us, Consigliere in the Byrne Group Handicap chase and although he would probably prefer the ground a bit softer it would be lovely for him to run well. Click read more to see exclusive video footage as Bostons Angels walks back into the winners enclosure! We also had another snooker player in the marquee yesterday, John Virgo. John is a keen racing fan and he visited Pond House earlier this season so it was lovely that he popped into see us. It was quite a hairy journey to Cheltenham yesterday. As you may have seen on the television there was quite a lot of fog about and most helicopters did not even fly. We have a very good pilot Mike Perry and luckily we went around the outside of the track trying to avoid the worst of the fog and managed to land safely!
- Wednesday, 16 March 2011 08:44
- Written by Chester Barnes
It was a cracking first day at Cheltenham yesterday. Great Endeavour was running a big race when he fell 2 out. I don't think he would have won but he would have been in the frame and the most important thing is that he seems none the worse and his fine this morning. Dan Breen finished 7th but did not look to stay the trip on this stiff track, maybe Aintree or even a race in Ireland may suit him better. Swing Bill also ran another solid race to finish seventh and we are just pleased to report that all three of our runners are ok this morning which is the most important thing.
