- Monday, 08 January 2018 16:40
- Written by David Pipe
The first day of the New Year was a busy one for the stable with five runners at Exeter, although the inclement weather, downpours and freezing temperatures have since started to play havoc with the fixtures list. We are yet to make it onto the scoresheet this calendar year, although there were a number of notable performances to mention, not least from Rathlin Rose who outran his odds in the Welsh National at Chepstow on Saturday.
- Monday, 01 January 2018 12:33
- Written by David Pipe
A couple of winners at Newbury and Uttoxeter on Saturday and Sunday was a nice way to bring 2017 to a close. It has been something of a frustrating year for the team – the obvious high point was the incredible back-to-back victory of Un Temps Pour Tout in the Ultima Chase at the Cheltenham Festival back in March, while the low also came at the Prestbury track when we lost the wonderfully talented Starchitect with victory all but assured in the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup last month. All in all I will not be sad to see the back of 2017, but the pieces are in place for 2018 to be considerably better and I am looking forward to getting started.
- Monday, 25 December 2017 00:00
- Written by David Pipe
With it being Christmas Day, I hope you will all excuse me an abridged weekly blog. I am sure as the week goes on some of the pictures from our staff party on Christmas Eve will come to light and I will be happy to add those as they emerge! One thing is for sure, with three small children in the household, I have the feeling that it is going to be an early start today!
- Monday, 18 December 2017 17:00
- Written by David Pipe
It is time to adjust to the loss of one of Pond House’s brightest stars after the awful events of the weekend at Cheltenham racecourse and this week’s blog has been an extremely difficult and emotional one to write. On Sunday it was very hard feeding up with Starchitect's stable being empty. I have been around the sport long enough to deal with the exultant highs and inevitable, crushing lows that the sport of horseracing can bring, but this one has bought unparalleled sadness not just to me, but to the whole team at the yard and no doubt, Paul and Clare Rooney.
- Monday, 11 December 2017 15:36
- Written by David Pipe
Eamon An Cnoic Winner at Haydock
While Storm Caroline caused the abandonment of Huntingdon yesterday due to snow it brought torrential rain and very high winds to Pond House. Thankfully the yard coped remarkably well with all Mother Nature threw at us and despite me personally taking refuge from the elements in the afternoon the daily routine continued as normal. Whether the racing fixtures this week run as normal or not seems highly unlikely but keep checking Chester’s blog for news throughout the week. I watched some of the racing in Ireland yesterday and most races were a war of attrition but it was great to see Gold Cup winner Sizing John return in such fine form. He looks like he will difficult to beat in any race he turns up in for the rest of the season.
- Monday, 04 December 2017 17:04
- Written by David Pipe
Busy as it is around Pound House at this time of year, it is not all work, work, you know. Indeed, midweek myself, Leanne Jack and Sophie jetted off to Finland to see if we could find Father Christmas and his helpers in Lapland! Back at home we still had eight runners through the course of the week and the racing diary is looking busy once again over the coming week.
- Monday, 27 November 2017 16:57
- Written by David Pipe
Another couple of winners last week courtesy of Ramses de Teillee and You Say What (pictured above) kept the scoreboard rolling along and at the time of writing the seasonal tally stands at 14. With the horses continuing in good order there is plenty to look forward to and the week ahead is looking busy with many entries over the coming days.
