- Monday, 12 February 2024 16:37
- Written by David Pipe
Ramses De Teillee Retires
It is with mixed emotions that I bring the news that Ramses De Teillee has been retired. Our gallant grey ran a super race in the veteran’s final at Warwick last month to be fourth but disappointed at Exeter yesterday and after discussing it with owners John White and Anne Underhill this morning we have decided to give him a well-deserved retirement. He has the desire and heart to still be a racehorse but his body can’t quite keep up!
- Monday, 05 February 2024 15:48
- Written by David Pipe
Ocean Heights Winner at Kempton
We had a winner under each code last week from just a handful of runners and it was nice to keep the score board ticking along. Ocean Heights was our final flat winner of 2023 and became the first of 2024 at Kempton last Wednesday evening. He has shown a real liking for the track having run well there on every start recently. He enjoyed stepping back up in distance and was given a lovely front running ride from apprentice Aiden Brookes. We didn’t really want to make the running but to ensure a true run race we decided to make our own pace and he controlled it very well from the front. We will wait to see what the handicapper does to him on Tuesday but hopefully he won’t put him up too much and we can head back to Kempton for a similar race at the beginning of March. I think he will improve more for stepping up in trip in due course but he is a strong traveller with a good attitude and it is brilliant to have him such good form at present.
- Monday, 29 January 2024 16:15
- Written by David Pipe
Kingofthewest Winner at Chepstow
Last week we teamed up with Harry Cobden while Jack Tudor was banned and recorded our first winner together with Kingofthewest winning at Chepstow. This was our eight year olds first win over fences and first win for a while so it was a particularly pleasing result. He hadn’t run too badly in three starts over the larger obstacles so far this season to be placed and we returned to cheek pieces as the headgear of choice instead of blinkers which he had been wearing of late.
- Monday, 22 January 2024 17:04
- Written by David Pipe
I have just returned from a lovely few days in Jamaica with Leanne and what a week we missed weather wise in the UK! I must start by thanking the team at home who kept the show on the road in difficult conditions, with frost and freezing temperatures before the wind and rain returned over the weekend.
- Monday, 15 January 2024 15:11
- Written by David Pipe
Royal Mer Leicester Winner
This week’s musings come from slightly sunnier and warmer climates than in Britain at the moment – I am in Jamaica! Leanne and I have headed to the Caribbean for a short break so thanks must go to the team at home for keeping the show on the road and Leanne’s mum Ang for looking after the children! We headed to Heathrow after racing at Warwick on Saturday and had a good journey over and safely arrived. It is a small world – we travelled over with the clerk of the course from Wetherby!
- Monday, 08 January 2024 16:14
- Written by David Pipe
Shot Boii Winner at Hereford
It was great to get our first winner of 2024 with Shot Boii winning for the first time over fences at Hereford last week. He ran promisingly on chasing debut at Lingfield to be fourth but then ran below our expectations back at that track the next time. We put the famous ‘Lough Derg’ red visor on him the other day and this had the desired effect as he looked sharp and happy from and early stage and jumped very well. I don’t think the handicapper can put him up too much for this win and hopefully he can build on this next time.
- Tuesday, 02 January 2024 11:33
- Written by David Pipe
Happy New Year to you all and welcome to 2024! We may be in a new year but the weather is continuing as it finished the last…wet!! Both scheduled jumps meetings for Wednesday were abandoned before the declarations stage while I am sure Exeter may have struggled to race had their meeting been today rather than yesterday with a lot of rain falling overnight once again. It has been the wettest year at Pond House since 2012 and our second highest recorded rainfall since we have been keeping records for over 20 years.
- Tuesday, 26 December 2023 12:29
- Written by David Pipe
I hope everyone enjoyed a very Happy Christmas whatever you may have been up to. It as an early start for me, feeding up the horses before I popped back to the house for present opening with the children. Thankfully, now they are a little older it is not quite as early a start as in previous years but with Martha still only seven there is plenty of excitement! It was then back to the yard and first lot was out at normal time.
- Monday, 18 December 2023 15:18
- Written by David Pipe
This time next week I hope to be enjoying my Christmas dinner with the children having opened all their presents and myself having completed my usual morning work routine. Our staff choose to work either Christmas Day or New Year’s Day and it usually ends up a 50/50 split without me having to get involved! Those with children tend to like to be at home on Christmas Day while some actually like to see their horses and work both days. It is a tradition that has worked well at Pond House for many years. Leanne and I are hosting this year and will have all the family around the table plus a few extras which include members of staff who are away from their own families. It will be all hands on deck for feeding up on Christmas evening ahead of Boxing Day, which racing fans probably look forward to more than Christmas Day itself!
- Monday, 11 December 2023 16:01
- Written by David Pipe
Jurancon - Winning Stable Debut
We nearly started the week with a winner up at Ayr, but unfortunately Phantomofthepoints was chinned on the line on hurdling debut! Even though it is gutting to travel all that way and just get beaten, the winner won the bumper at Aintree in April and we both pulled well clear of the rest so it was a nice performance and he can win next time.
