- Monday, 12 January 2026 15:29
- Written by David Pipe
Itseemslikeit Winner at Ffos Las
We enter the new week with warmer temperatures than last and a full programme of racing should take place this week without disruption according to clerks of the courses around the country. The freezing temperatures made things a little harder work at home last week than normal but thanks to my great team of staff they kept the show on the road. Our tractor team were in extra hours to work on the gallops to ensure they were in working order and we put down our own salt where needed to make sure everywhere was safe. Our indoor canter is also a blessing in bad weather and it gives the riders a little respite from conditions.
- Monday, 05 January 2026 15:18
- Written by David Pipe
The first big freeze of this winter has taken its grip over the country and the racing programme has succumbed to the elements in recent days and it will probably continue to do so for the first half of this week with the next jump racing most likely to be at Taunton on Thursday all being well.
- Monday, 29 December 2025 16:18
- Written by David Pipe
No Walkover Aintree Winner
I hope everyone enjoyed Christmas Day and especially Boxing Day like I did! After getting the work done on Christmas morning we had a lovely family lunch followed by a restful afternoon before evening stables and then early to bed in preparation for the following day. I was up to feed both our runners, Red Wine Supernova and No Walkover before they left for racing and what a day it turned out to be!
- Monday, 22 December 2025 16:30
- Written by David Pipe
Lady Balko Winner at Hereford
Last week started with more second places than ideal but on the flip side it means the horses continue to run well and we finished it with two nice winners over the weekend. Shot Boii and Royal Mer both finished second at Wincanton while Bras D’or was second in a novice event at Ludlow. Neon Moon and Eton Mes were both fourth in their respective races while Way of Stars made a pleasing stable and hurdling debut to be third at Exeter and Punta Del Este ran his best race for us by finishing third at Ascot, staying on strongly at the finish suggesting a step up in trip next time might suit.
- Monday, 15 December 2025 07:56
- Written by David Pipe
Itseemslikeit Winner at Uttoxeter
It has been a good but somewhat frustrating week on the racecourse with literally all of the horses running well but not as many winners as I would have liked! Itseemslikeit was a welcome if a pleasantly surprising winners at Uttoxeter on Tuesday.
- Monday, 08 December 2025 15:50
- Written by David Pipe
Gentleman Toboot Exeter Winner
Gentleman Toboot put in a nice performance to make it two from two over hurdle at Exeter on Friday. The drop back in trip did not inconvenience our five-year-old and he dominated from the front and galloped on strongly to the line when Jack Tudor asked him for his effort. He and the runner up pulled nicely clear of the rest with us conceding a penalty to that rival who looks decent. Gentleman Toboot’s jumping in the main was better than it had been on debut but there is still room for improvement when it gets to the business end of the race. Two miles on a galloping trip would be his ideal conditions at the moment and the softer the ground the better. He will have to go up in grade next time but he is a horse I hold in high regard. He is lightly raced and improving with each start so I there is plenty more to come from this likeable imposing individual.
- Monday, 01 December 2025 14:29
- Written by David Pipe
Royal Mer - For Sale to Stay in the Yard
I start my week in London with Gerry Supple for our annual trip to the capital for the Horse Writers Awards in London. We are kindly invited by Mike Vince and are joined on the table by Patrick Mullins and a few other special guests. We take the 9.30am train for Tiverton Parkway and are in Paddington in just two hours which is not bad going! We have a train booked for on the way home and I shall let you know next week if we make it home in time…we have been known to miss our planned return and we even had stay overnight on one occasion when the weather was bad so who knows what may happen!
