Winning Weekend

       Jaipaletemps Winner at Lingfield

It was a good weekend for Pond House with two winners from two runners.  Lady Balko won the valuable mares handicap chase at Hereford for the second time on Saturday while Jaipaletemps recorded his third win of the season at Lingfield yesterday.  Both were well ridden by Rian Corcoran and these wins now mean he has reached five career winners and he loses his five pound claim.  He will still claim seven and an extra three in conditional jockeys races so it will still be a very valuable advantage when needed.

         Lady Balko Hereford Winner

Lady Balko recorded a hat-trick of wins last season over fences, the third of these was the race at Hereford.  She hasn't quite been at her best since then partly because she was in the grip of the handicapper and partly because she didn't seem herself but we have recently treated her for ulcers and she has really seemed to improve for this in recent weeks.  She is back looking a million dollars and was in good form at home so we were hopeful of a good run on Saturday.  She looked happy from and early stage, Rian was very positive on her and she gradually worked her way to the front over the final circuit.  She jumped very well but usually has one race blunder which this time she saved for the final fence!  It was a little heart in the mouth moment but in fairness to her and Rian they never looked in serious danger...thankfully! It was a lovely win for her, taking her career record to seven wins from 19 starts which is pretty impressive in itself and it was great for her little group of owners.  She has come out of the race well and hopefully the handicapper will not overreact as we look for her next race.

Jaipaletemps has been a revelation since returning from a summer break and has now won three of his last four races, ridden by Rian on every occasion.  He stays 2m4f but seems at his best over two miles on soft ground and he put in another good display to win again yesterday.  He loves his racing and has a great attitude and I would like to think even after the handicapper has had his stay that he can win again if we pick the right race.  It was a nice birthday winner for my mum as well, Happy Birthday mum!  I drove the horse to the races myself yesterday, it was a long day but very worth it!

It is the last day of racing before Christmas today and there are four meetings, two on the flat at Lingfield and Wolverhampton and two over jumps at Huntingdon and Musselburgh.  We don't have any runners over jumps but we do have Ocean Heights running on the flat at Lingfield.  He goes in the final race of the day at 3.30pm, a 1m2f handicap and Jack Dace rides.  He had a little blow out on the all-weather last time and I am hoping that has put him spot on for this race and he looks a great each way chance.  He has not won on the artificial surface for a little while but he won two on turf in the summer and he is now handicapped to run well.  The jockey knows him and gets on with him well so I am hopeful.

There are plenty of runners on the card at Huntingdon with a couple of useful looking horses.  Khrisma looks a mare with huge potential owned by JP McManus and she should win the opening mares novices hurdle at 12.20pm.  2024 Derby runner up Ambiente Friendly makes his handicap hurdling debut in the 2.20pm race.  He was fourth on hurdling debut and then won at this track last time out.  The handicapper gave him a mark of 119 and shrewd connections obviously feel this is a good rating and are wasting no time in going down this route.  I would think he will take all the beating in this race.

I don't really want to talk about football again today as Manchester United lost away at Aston Villa yesterday but there is one Premiership match this evening, Fulham play Nottingham Forrest at 8pm.

I actually used cash today at a shop.  Might chop some wood later.

Maybe ride the horse into town to get some provisions.

Happy Monday!