- Tuesday, 18 October 2011 12:16
- Written by David Pipe
It looks like being a hectic week with plenty of jumping action to look forward to. In fact there are no fewer than twelve National Hunt meetings taking place and we have entries at most of them. We enjoyed a double at Exeter on Tuesday courtesy of My Brother Sylvest (Tom Scudamore), while young amateur Tom Bellamy scored his first success since joining us at Pond House when a late replacement aboard Soulard (pictured above).
- Monday, 10 October 2011 16:21
- Written by David Pipe
Just reflecting on last week, it was a very busy one! It started as I mentioned with a morning at Wincanton races last Monday, then for the rest of the week it was pretty hectic with owners here to see their horses on several mornings. It included a couple of new horses arriving at the yard, a visit from an equine artist and an interview with the editor of the Owner Breeder magazine. Edward Whittaker was also here one morning taking photos to accompany our stable tour that will be in the Racing Post and add to that a few days racing for me at Ludlow, Exeter, Newton Abbot and Newmarket and I was quite glad to finally reach Sunday! Unfortunately it was not a day of rest but it gave me chance to catch up with work at home!
- Monday, 03 October 2011 20:44
- Written by David Pipe
Well, what started as a quiet week built up to crescendo with three runners at Fontwell on Saturday and a runner at Huntingdon on Sunday as well as a trip across to France for the Arc Sales on Saturday evening and a visit to Longchamp for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe on Sunday.
I was thrilled to register a double on Saturday with Arab League and Vertige Dore both scoring hard fought victories. It was good to see them both display real courage under pressure and they received excellent rides from Tom Scudamore and Timmy Murphy respectively.
- Monday, 26 September 2011 21:30
- Written by David Pipe
I was greatly saddened to hear that another great former trainer passed away last week. Michael Jarvis, who trained at Newmarket from 1968 until February of this year, passed away at the age of 73 following a long battle with cancer. Michael was a wonderful trainer and won countless big races with the likes of Carroll House, Rakti and Ameerat, but more than that – he was a great man who will be missed by the entire racing community.
- Monday, 19 September 2011 15:55
- Written by David Pipe
Firstly, I couldn’t start this week without saying how saddened I was to learn of Donald “Ginger” McCain’s passing this morning. Ginger was a legend of the training ranks and he has done so much to raise the profile of our sport, most notably through his expert handling of Red Rum and more recently Amberleigh House to win four Grand National’s.
- Monday, 12 September 2011 19:34
- Written by David Pipe
Chester Cup winner Mamlook will miss the Ces
It was the first forfeit stage today (Tuesday) for next month's Cesarewitch at Newmarket and unfortunately we have had to scratch Mamlook. The seven year old son of Key Of Luck went for a racecourse gallop last week and came back with a bit of heat in a fore leg and the vet has confirmed that he is going to need some time off. Mamlook has twice finished in the frame in the Cesarewitch (third behind Caracciola in 2008, and second behind Darley Sun in 2009), as well as landing the fiercely competitive Chester Cup in 2010, four hurdle races (including the Grade 2 Victor Chandler Handicap Hurdle at Ascot) and a couple of chases. He has been a wonderful servant and this setback is a blow to everyone concerned, but he will be given everything he needs to assist his recuperation and get him back onto the racecourse. His absence means that we now have three remaining in next month's Cesarewitch - Big Occasion, Beyond and Tasheba.
- Monday, 05 September 2011 17:38
- Written by David Pipe
It’s been a week of rather mixed fortunes with American Art’s success at Huntingdon last Monday being the obvious highlight. Conor O’Farrell gave him a very confident ride and he clearly gets a good tune out of him as he is now unbeaten in two starts on the gelding. An official rating of 113 means that he is going to continue to struggle in handicap company, but he is in good form and will continue to pay his way in this type of race.
