- Monday, 30 July 2018 15:43
- Written by David Pipe
With the sun continuing to beat down until the end of last week, it has meant that the ground has remained unsuitably fast for some of our intended runners. As such, there were only two runners from Pond House but they both performed creditably with old favourite Dell’ Arca producing one of his very best efforts to land a competitive handicap hurdle at Uttoxeter on Sunday.
- Monday, 23 July 2018 15:47
- Written by David Pipe
The horses continue to run well without quite getting their heads in front which is certainly frustrating. However, exasperating as it is, at least they are in decent form – it would be considerably worse if the horses were underperforming. With a dearth of jumps fixtures we only had four runners over the sticks last week with Timeforben narrowly denied at Uttoxeter, Chato a solid third at Newton Abbot, while Kalifourchon was still in with a shout when parting company with his rider.
- Monday, 16 July 2018 14:15
- Written by David Pipe
With the sun continuing to beat down, it is perhaps a good job that the jumps programme is a little truncated at present. Having said that, with advances in technology and watering techniques the course officials have on the whole been doing an excellent job of providing a good, safe and consistent surface for these summer jumps fixtures to be held on. Even so, we only had a couple of runners over the sticks last week and it is looking like a similar story for the week ahead.
- Monday, 09 July 2018 14:08
- Written by David Pipe
Much as anticipated with only a handful of fixtures last week, it was a quiet one for the stable on the runners front. Indeed, we only had four runners under rules, while Iniciar and Clare Wyatt were our much publicised representatives in the charity race at Newton Abbot on Friday. Jumps fixtures for the week ahead are once again looking a little thin on the ground so we may have a rare flat runner or two later in the week.
- Monday, 02 July 2018 15:02
- Written by David Pipe
Today marks the beginning of Racing Staff Week, an initiative started by that fabulous charitable organisation, Racing Welfare. It was created to highlight the important work done by the people at the grassroots of the sport and to thank them for their tireless hard work and unending dedication to their charges. Without these people, the sport that we all love would cease to exist so we owe them a great debt of thanks. A week barely seems enough to express our gratitude, but it is a good start!
- Monday, 25 June 2018 15:17
- Written by David Pipe
What a thrilling week of racing from Royal Ascot. I very much enjoyed my annual pilgrimage up there on Tuesday and felt that our runner Percy Street peformed creditably in the Ascot Stakes. Indeed, I thought that he ran far better than his finishing position would suggest. Meanwhile, our runners over the sticks also performed well on the whole and I was delighted to round the week off with a winner at Worcester on Sunday.
- Monday, 18 June 2018 14:51
- Written by David Pipe
Time for the Top Hat again!
As I write this week’s blog we are on the eve of the biggest five days of the summer. Indeed, for many racing fans, the five days of spectacular flat action at Royal Ascot are the highlight of the whole flat season. I have been fortunate to have trained a Royal Ascot winner and it is an experience unlike any other. I will be suited and booted in my top hat and tails and flying up again tomorrow (Tuesday) morning ahead of our runner in the Ascot Stakes.
