- Monday, 02 June 2025 13:16
- Written by David Pipe
Girls at Grass
As we now enter June I can once again reflect on the weather and report that the month of May was dry!1 Not as dry as May 2020 when just 17mm or rain fell but not much wetter, with 27mm of rainfall being recorded last month here at Pond House.
- Monday, 26 May 2025 10:35
- Written by David Pipe
Ocean Heights Winner at Haydock
Photo Credit: www.grossick.co.uk
Ocean Heights made it two wins in a week when following up his win at Doncaster with an all the way success at Haydock on Friday. Escaping a penalty for the first win because it was an apprentice race, he raced off the same mark and we were technically three pounds ‘well in’ and our jockey was able to claim his full seven pounds on this occasion. This was Jack Dace’s 100th ride and it was great he was able to make it a winning ride; he rode a lovely race from the front, dictating the pace and gradually increasing the tempo up the home straight.
- Monday, 19 May 2025 15:53
- Written by David Pipe
Ocean Heights - Winner at Doncaster
It was lovely to get off the mark on the flat for 2025 with Ocean Heights winning at Doncaster on Saturday. This was actually our eight year olds first win on the turf on the flat, his other career wins being on the all-weather and a bumper at the start of his career. The handicapper had given him some help in recent starts and it was great to be able to capitalise on this at the weekend. Young apprentice jockey Jack Dace gave him a lovely ride and he quickened up well against the rail two furlongs from home. He has an entry at Haydock on Friday over a slightly short trip, which will not be a problem, and he does not get a penalty from his win so it looks a good opportunity for him to run again quickly. Jack Dace will ride again and can claim seven pounds this time instead of the five he did the other day.
- Monday, 12 May 2025 15:04
- Written by David Pipe
Fergus Gillard Retires from Saddle
We just had a couple of runners last week over jumps and Chemical Warfare didn’t quite see out the distance of 3m5f in the Norfolk National at Fakenham so we will bring him back in trip next time. Nini Star put her disappointing hurdles debut well behind her and ran respectably at Worcester and can build on that again going forwards.
- Monday, 05 May 2025 11:06
- Written by David Pipe
Thanksforthehelp Punchestown Winner
It was fantastic to get a winner at Punchestown last week with Thanksforthehelp winning the opening contest on Wednesday’s card under jockey Gavin Brouder. American Sniper finished sixth in the same race under Ben Bromley not beaten very far and that was a good run.
- Monday, 28 April 2025 14:13
- Written by David Pipe
The 2024-25 jumps season came to a thrilling conclusion on Saturday with Willie Mullins, not surprisingly having yet another super Saturday and coming from behind Dan Skelton at the start of the day to well in front and win the title in convincing fashion by the end of it.
- Monday, 21 April 2025 10:17
- Written by David Pipe
Chemical Warfare
Eight Time Winner This Season
Despite not having a winner in the last few days and I am delighted to have reached 50 winners for the season! How you may ask, well…. Chemical Warfare now has an incredible eight wins to his name for the season. We thought his win at Sedgefield the other day was his seventh, our 49th, but rather by accident, no one official has told us, we have discovered that he has been awarded a race that he actually finished runner-up in because the winner has been disqualified! It is quite fitting that he should be our 50th winner has he has been a flag bearer for the yard at his level for a twelve month period which is a testament to both him and to us for keeping him in such good form for the whole year.
- Monday, 14 April 2025 17:10
- Written by David Pipe
Chemical Warfare
Seven Time Winner This Season
Chemical Warfare was our 49th winner of the season when winning at Sedgefield on Friday evening and what a star he has been since joining us. In just under twelve months, he has now won seven of his fourteen starts, a 50% strike rate, and you could argue he is a little unlucky not to have at least one or two more wins beside his name, once when falling and once when finishing second and not having a lot of luck in running. His first win was from a mark of 75 at Market Rasen, while on Friday he was winning from a rating of 115 and this was for the third time at Sedgefield. His progression has been a joy to watch and he is a horse who wears his heart on his sleeve and always tries his best. While the Eider chase at Newcastle last time proved a little beyond him, he showed his resilience and bounce back capabilities in calmer waters. He is a horse who thrives on his work and routine, we tried to give him a little break during the winter but I am not sure enjoyed being off games that much!
- Monday, 07 April 2025 14:32
- Written by David Pipe
Kingston Queen - Third at Aintree
It was a case of ‘third-itis’ last week with three of our five runners filling that position but Kintaro and Castle Daragh ran their best races for a while and took a step in the right direction while Kingston Queen ran a cracker in the Listed mares bumper at Aintree. Kingston Queen has done nothing but improve all season and took another step forward to be a close third on Thursday. She was prominent throughout, galloped all the way through the line, showing a great attitude, and was closing on those in front of her in the final strides. She would have preferred a bit softer conditions underfoot but it was a good performance and that is it for her for the season now. She is a lovely mare and one very much to look forward to over hurdles next season after a holiday.
- Monday, 31 March 2025 15:50
- Written by David Pipe
Vieux Lion Rouge will be Parading at Aintree
On the final day of this month, I can report that it has been officially the driest March at Pond House since we started recording the rainfall 25 years ago. Just 8mm of rain has fallen here in the past 31 days, which fell on 22nd March (6mm) and 28th March (2mm). The previous lowest recorded amount of rainfall during March was back in 2012 when just over 22m of rain fell so we are quite some way below the previous lowest. In March 2024, we had 137mm of rain and up to the end of that month last year, the running total was 462.5mm. For the same period in 2025, we have had 243.5mm of rain. Despite the beginning of this year seaming as if it was endless rain, we are now well and truly behind last year!
