- Monday, 08 September 2014 16:00
- Written by David Pipe
Last week was a quiet one with only three runners and it looks like being a similar story this week with National Hunt racing taking place on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday before we embark on another five day break. Why there are such gaps in the calendar remains a mystery to me and personally I find it unforgivable that there shouldn’t be at least one jumps card on somewhere in the country on each of the weekend days – these are the days when people are most able to go racing, so why are we not making the sport more accessible?
- Monday, 01 September 2014 13:09
- Written by David Pipe
Barton Stacey - Winner 3x This Season
Two winners at Worcester last Wednesday from only three runners during the week were fantastic and it has kept the seasons tally ticking over nicely. Barton Stacey made it two wins on the bounce, this time over fences snatching a race that he looked very unlikely to win turning in but a never say die ride from the red hot champ AP lifted him home in front. Street Entertainer made it a double on the night and won the seller in a canter but how he should of done on official ratings. AP had the complete opposite ride to Barton and simply had to steer our seven year old home. This is Street Entertainer’s second win of the season and he could well have a try over the larger obstacles at some point. Barton Stacey is likely to continue to mix hurdling and chasing although he will find things tougher off a higher handicap mark in the future but having already won three this summer we cannot complain! Bathwick Street made his hurdling debut on the night and he ran okay but got very tired from the second last. He will have learnt from this experience and hopefully there will be some improvement in him.
- Monday, 25 August 2014 11:42
- Written by David Pipe
Dynaste
On what has been a fairly quiet few days on the runner’s front over the last week, as always there has been quite a lot going on behind the scenes and I am pleased to report all the ‘winter’ horses are galloping away daily and I am pleased with the progress so far. I thought you would all like to see a photo of Dynaste on the gallops who is looking as well as ever and is pleased to be back in his exercise routine again.
- Monday, 18 August 2014 16:02
- Written by David Pipe
After a nine day break I cannot tell you how pleased I was to get back jump racing again and I was even more pleased that the horses have returned from the enforced mini-break in rude health with three winners during the course of the week. Unfortunately for Tom Scudamore his enforced holiday is a little longer than the rest of ours, although in his absence we have been able to put up some of the other capable lads around the yard as well as secure the services of a certain A P McCoy on a few of our runners.
- Monday, 11 August 2014 15:51
- Written by David Pipe
MCP, David & Jilly Cooper at the Garden Party
As we know we have had a mini break from the jump racing over the past few days but I can assure everyone there has been plenty of work going on behind the scenes! All the horses are now back in from their summer holidays and in fact the majority are cantering away on the gallops.
Jumps action returns on Wednesday but my first runner of the week is on the flat on Tuesday at Ffos Las. Bathwick Street is having his first run for the yard in the 5.15pm race, a 1m4f handicap with Willie Twiston-Davies in the saddle. He actually won his last two starts for David Evans but then has had some time off due to injury so this will be his first run since May 2013. He is a lovely big five year old and I am really looking forward to sending him over hurdles but it is nice to get him back on the track and see what he can do on the level first. He works well at home and it will be interesting to see how he gets on off a mark of 78.
- Monday, 04 August 2014 14:46
- Written by David Pipe
We have now embarked on our nine day summer sabbatical and you have already heard my thoughts on that, but the horses still need to be groomed, exercised and fed so it is very much business as usual around the stable. This time of year gives us the ideal opportunity to do a bit of belated ‘spring cleaning’; getting the maintenance jobs around the yard done, as well as steam cleaning and disinfecting the remaining empty boxes. Indeed, with the horses still continuing to arrive back in from their summer breaks you could almost confuse it for a regular day at the height of the National Hunt season…albeit considerably warmer!
- Monday, 28 July 2014 15:29
- Written by David Pipe
There has been plenty written about Tom Scudamore’s error of judgement last Monday when taking the wrong course aboard Run Forest Run for trainer Karen McLintock so I will not dwell on the subject too much. Needless to say that Tom was mortified as soon as he realised his error and has apologised profoundly to all effected by his mistake. He accepted his punishment of a twelve day suspension (commencing 13th August) with the good grace and dignity befitting of a gentleman and he seems to have come out of this with his reputation enhanced rather than damaged by the entire saga.
- Monday, 21 July 2014 15:41
- Written by David Pipe
Well, he got there in the end! A P McCoy finally surpassed my father’s tally of winners with success in the Summer Plate at Market Rasen aboard It’s A Gimme on Saturday. To ride 4,192 winners is a phenomenal achievement and judging by his appearance at Pond House on Sunday evening to claim bragging rights, his hunger is undiminished. He still wants to ride 300 winners in a season and that feat alone would put him firmly on his way to an extraordinary 5,000 winners.
We had a lovely little get together last night (Sunday) to celebrate his achievement and for all that has been made out of the competition, it has all been in good humour and we could not be happier for him. Congratulations from everybody at Pond House to a very special talent.
- Monday, 14 July 2014 15:43
- Written by David Pipe
It has been well publicised that champion jockey A P McCoy is nearing the number of winners that my father sent out during his time as a trainer (4191) and it would seem that as he has drawn closer to that tally, the winners have become harder and harder to come by. It is a target that A P had set for himself after riding his 4000th winner and it has been an on-going personal challenge between him and my father for some time. To think that it has taken McCoy twenty years to achieve this total is some testament to the success that my father enjoyed as a trainer, although I know he will be delighted when the champ finally surpasses his tally. They have been exchanging teasing texts over the past few weeks, but it has all been of a fun nature although my father has threatened to take out his trainers licence again…I certainly hope he is only joking, otherwise I will be on the lookout for another assistant trainer!
- Monday, 07 July 2014 15:47
- Written by David Pipe
As I alluded to last week, we have been busy at the sales recently. Following a productive time in Ireland where we picked up six new recruits, we enjoyed an even more fruitful time in France where we purchased another eight inmates. They are a mix of promising, young unraced horses and a few with their ability already proven on the racecourse including exciting lots Alternatif and Batavir (pictured above). At this time last year we were all very excited for the season ahead and following a great campaign, we are extremely fortunate to be able to solidify an already strong team with these new additions. Of course, we wouldn't be able to achieve any of this without the wonderful support of our great group of owners, both old and new and for that I am extremely grateful. These are certainly exciting times for everyone at Pond House.
