- Monday, 18 November 2024 16:52
- Written by David Pipe
Vision De Maine Winne at Lingfield
With weather conditions on the dry side last week, we did not have that many runners last but I was delighted to get another win on the board with Vision De Maine winning for the second time this season, this time at Lingfield and making it two from two over fences. He made one bad jumping error mid-race with which we all had our heart in our mouth for a second but he jumped perfectly after this and he drew away from his nearest pursuers after the last. He is a relentless galloper and the further he goes the better he goes. We will see what the handicapper does to his rating on Tuesday morning but I do not think they can be too harsh and there is plenty more to come.
- Monday, 11 November 2024 16:25
- Written by David Pipe
King Turgeon Winner of the Grand Sefton
(Photo Courtesy of Racing Post)
Best made plans do not always work out, especially when horses are involved but there is a great sense of both relief and pride when they do! The Grand Sefton chase at Aintree over the Grand National fences was an ‘early closing entry’ race and I was keen to enter King Turgeon back in October. King Turgeon has always been an electric jumper of fences and while I think his owners, Somerset Racing, thought I was, a little mad for suggesting the race initially they were good sports and went along with the idea. At that point in time, King Turgeon was yet to run this season and was last in action back in the spring where he was taken out mid race, rather unluckily, by a loose horse at Chepstow.
- Monday, 04 November 2024 16:00
- Written by David Pipe
Chemical Warfare Winner at Newcastle
It has been a good week for the yard with another three winners on the board and what was particularly nice was the manner in which these victories were achieved. King Turgeon, Chemical Warfare and Walkadina were there winners throughout the week and have now taken us to 24 for the season so far.
- Monday, 28 October 2024 10:56
- Written by David Pipe
Cyfor Malta
Cyfor Malta passed away peacefully on Sunday 27th October 2024 at the grand old age of 31. He spent his retirement close to the yard with former head lad Dennis Dummet (who sadly passed away this year) and his partner Norma who loved and adored him. He lived for several years with Miinnehoma, It Takes Time and in recent years, his new best friend was Dynaste. Dad and I visited him not that long ago and he still looked magnificent but age just caught up with him quite recently.
- Monday, 21 October 2024 14:16
- Written by David Pipe
We had our 20th winner of the season at Uttoxeter on Friday courtesy of Vision De Maine getting off the mark under rules on chasing debut under Jack Tudor. Our five-year-old son of Buck’s Boom is a lovely big old-fashioned chasing type and after making a pleasing debut last season in a bumper at Sedgefield behind a useful horse, things did not go to plan afterwards over hurdles. A summer at grass has done him the world of good and having schooled very well at home we were quite hopeful of a big run and being able to capitalise on his handicap mark. Everything went very smoothly during the race as he travelled kindly, jumped very neatly and kept on galloping strongly. He has come out of that race well and while we did have him entered again quickly at Plumpton, we decided not to run him with a penalty. We will see what the handicapper does to him this week but I hope there is plenty of progress to come from him.
- Monday, 14 October 2024 14:10
- Written by David Pipe
Neon Moon Winner at Chepstow
It has been a great week for the yard with three winners since last writing and 19 winners on the board for the season so far. Chemical Warfare won for the fourth time since joining us and for the second time in recent weeks up at Sedgefield. He certainly does not seem to mind the long journey and loves the track. He is versatile ground wise and put in another solid display to win comfortably in the end. We considered entering him back at Sedgefield this weekend in the Durham National and while we wait to see what the handicapper does to him on Tuesday morning, he would have been some way out of the weights so decided against it. He has come out of his race well and there are plenty more opportunities for him in the next few weeks.
- Monday, 07 October 2024 13:12
- Written by David Pipe
The last seven days have been quite quiet on the runner’s front but very busy behind the scenes back at Pond House. We had owners and visitors at the yard every day last week culminating in about 60 people here on Saturday for those involved with the syndicates we run directly here at Pond House. It was a morning well received and some welcome sunshine was an added bonus. A visit to the local Culm Valley Inn for a refreshment after the stables also proved popular!
- Monday, 30 September 2024 12:55
- Written by David Pipe
Chemical Warfare Winner at Sedgefield
We started last week how I would ideally love to start any week, with a winner! Unfortunately, we won’t be starting this week in the same manner as we were due to have runners at Newton Abbot on Monday but the meeting was abandoned due to waterlogging. Chemical Warfare made the long journey to Sedgefield last Monday and put up another gritty display to win for the third time this summer with Jack Tudor riding. He looked in a little bit of trouble leaving the back straight but responded well for pressure before getting to the front, probably a little too soon, idling and pricking his ears on the run in but always just doing enough.
- Monday, 23 September 2024 10:57
- Written by David Pipe
Amy - Will be Riding in Wincanton Charity Race
Last week was very quiet on the racecourse for us and it will continue to be so this week with jumps racing still a little limited but things do start getting going a bit more next week. We have had some rain at Pond House in the last few days but not nearly as much as some places around the country! The flat meeting at Leicester On Monday was abandoned the day before due to waterlogging with 72mm of rain falling in a relatively short space of time and a lot of courses with fixtures coming up have had dramatic changes in going descriptions. We made entries at Warwick for Tuesday the other day with the ground described as good to firm, I see this morning they have changed to good to soft following rain over the weekend and conditions will soften further with quite a bit more rain to come before racing. We did need some rain but like with everything these days we seem to go from one extreme to the other!
- Monday, 16 September 2024 14:09
- Written by David Pipe
Oceanline Winner at Worcester Again
We had our fifteenth winner of the season at Worcester last week courtesy of Oceanline winning again under a good ride from Jack Tudor. He had won at the track over 2m7f on his previous start and had been put up six pounds for that success but that was not enough to stop him and the drop back in distance to 2m4f did not inconvenience him either. Jack gave him a positive ride, he jumped well and kept galloping. Things were getting a little tense in the final half a furlong as he was being closed down but he just did enough and we were on the right side of a photo finish.
