Another Bold Show!

Bold Perk continued his fine run of form since joining the Pond House team by winning his second chase within the space of ten days.  He didn't always seem to be travelling that comfortably, but in the end he won by a comfortable fifteen lengths under young Conor O'Farrell.  He is entered again for this afternoon (this time over hurdles) and the step up to 3m1/2f should suit him.  If he is none the worse for yesterday's exertions he should have an excellent chance of going in again.

Barton Stacey ran a promising first race since joining us from the sales when finishing a close second in the closing bumper at Worcester under 5lbs conditional jockey Rachael Green.  He was competing under a penalty and this former point-to-point winner looks like yet another shrewd purchase by David - he certainly looks able to win again, especially when he goes jumping.

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The Irish certainly like to support the meetings at Perth and this afternoon they are responsible for 18 of the 54 runners (or 33%).  I hope for their sake that the ferries do not go on strike.  Personally I think that it makes it a lot more interesting to have the Irish runners competing and it seems to be Gordon Elliot's second home!

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I can't remember the last time that I saw Sir Michael Stoute's name on the cold trainers list of the Racing Post, but he has now gone 19 days and 29 runners with a winner.  It is a big day for the yard on Saturday when their Derby and Arc hero Workforce takes on Aidan O'Brien's Australian import So You Think in Sandown's Coral Eclipse - the form of the Stoute yard has obviously had something to do with the favourite's flip-flopping.

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I see that there is going to be a 2012 jockey's calendar.  The likes of Sam Thomas, Andrew Thornton, Brian Hughes, Jimmy McCarthy and Rhys Flint have all agreed to strip for the production.  Maybe we can get Johnny Farrelly to agree - he could wear one of his lovely hats!  I tried to do a calendar of our stable girls a few years ago and even managed to get six of them to agree.  Unsurprisingly the lads thought that it was a great idea, although Mrs Pipe wouldn't let me go ahead!  I had plenty of offers of help to hold the tripod!

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We have a couple more pictures from the gallops to share with you.  They are of American Art and Kilshanna, and Lucy's Perfect in action alongside Street Entertainer.  Both American Art and Kilshanna are possible runners at Newton Abbot on Monday.

  
Above left: (l-r) American Art and Kilshanna and right: Lucy's Perfect and Street Entertainer on the gallops