Our Vic leads Kauto Star en-route to victory in the Betfair Bowl at Aintree in 2008
Picture by kind permission of Bill Selwyn

We have taken the decision to retire Our Vic.  He will be a teenager in January 2011and has done us proud, competing in the highest grade throughout his entire career.  His joints have started to give him a little trouble and after all he has done for us, it is now time for us to look after him.

He won fourteen of his thirty-five career starts including a Cheltenham Festival success in the Ryanair Chase, a Paddy Power Gold Cup at their November meeting, as well as taking the notable scalp of double Gold Cup winner Kauto Star in the Betfair Bowl at Aintree.

In total, Our Vic won over £700,000 in prize money and he will be extremely difficult to replace.

He is thoroughly deserving of a long and happy retirement and as you can see from the picture below, he is now at the British Racing School where he is looked after and idolised by the students there.

In May 2010 we bade a fond farewell to our star chaser Well Chief. The ever popular chestnut, who won the Arkle Chase as well as finishing runner-up in the Triumph Hurdle and twice in the Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, was retired after his last run, fittingly in this year's renewal of the Champion Chase. He had a fine career winning two races on the flat in Germany before being bought by David Johnson. He won his debut hurdle race in this country at Taunton and went on to win a further two hurdle races which included the Elite hurdle at Wincanton and the Adonis hurdle at Kempton. He scaled even greater heights as a chaser as mentioned winning the Arkle on only his second ever start over the larger obstacles. Other notable successes included carrying top weight to victory in the Victor Chandler chase giving over a stone to his rivals, The Celebration Chase at Sandown, The Game Spirit at Newbury and his final success came in the Connaught Chase at Cheltenham in November 2009. This is not to mention his numerous placed races in top class events and all this despite his well documented injury problems, in which his legs have been described as “like glass”. This only heightens the respect and love for this talented horse who was guided to these levels expertly by both Martin and latterly David.  He amassed more than £631,000.00 in prize money in a career which spanned eight years. He ran 32 times which included 12 wins under all codes and 12 places. He truly was a remarkable horse on the race track if not slightly quirky to ride at home! He was extremely kind natured and was loved by everyone at Pond House.

Chiefy is spending his retirement with Timmy Murphy, who enjoyed so many wonderful moments on our stable star.  He is turned out with another old favourite from Pond House, Vodka Bleu and I am sure that they will both enjoy a long and happy retirement.  Below are few pictures of Well Chief after winning his last race at Cheltenham and at his new home out at grass.

Sir Bathwick retired in 2010 at the age of eleven on a high, having won at Wincanton, before finishing a good second to Ollie Magern in a class 2 chase at Perth.

A winner over hurdles and fences and rated 130 at his peak, Sir Bathwick was owned by our stable sponsors Wayne & Sarah Clifford.  He is now enjoying his retirement with Katie, who works in our yard.

Sir Bathwick

Many of you will remember Wise Owl who retired in 2009, having won a couple of hurdle races for David at Taunton and Chepstow.  Born in 2002, Wise Owl is owned by Vicky who used to work for us at Pond House.  As you can see from the photograph below, he is enjoying his new life and is looking a picture.

Wise Owl

We were very pleased to hear from Gemma, who is the proud owner of Llanelly, who raced for MCP back in 1990.  As you can see from the picture below, Llanelly is looking vey well and enjoyed a long and happy retirement in Wales - she is now 23 years old.

Llanelly

We were delighted to see that Fast Mix has been doing so well in his new career since leaving Pond House.  Indeed, he excelled himself at the Horse Of The Year show in October 2009.  This grey son of Linamix, who was owned by the late Jim Weeden finished third of twelve in the retrained race horse to show class.

Fast Mix was a winning hurdler for MCP and has obviously taken very well to his new discipline.

Fast Mix

Nice Horse won a bumper on his racecourse debut for MCP and also a hurdle race when trained by David.

Now affectionately known as "Spud", Mrs Harris has owned Nice Horse for two years.  In that time he has been hunting and has also whipped-in for the Silverton Foxhounds in the hands of her son, Jack.

Nice Horse in action with Jack Harris in the saddle

This Spring Nice Horse has competed in his first Hunter Trial with Jack aboard and the pair thoroughly enjoyed themselves.

Leacourt Master Doubt is a three year old out of Balnora, an ex-French filly that we had at Pond House in the late 1990's.

John Bevan, owner of Leacourt kindly sent us this picture from the Honiton show, where he finished as second reserve champion in the Ridden and In Hand classes.

Leacourt Master Doubt

It is always a pleasure to hear of all our retired ex-inmates and their descendants, and hope that their new owners continue to update us with their progress.

We have just heard the wonderful news that Whirling has a beautiful filly foal.  This picture below, shows how well both mother and daughter look.  The little filly looks the spitting image of her mother!  Let's hope she grows up to be just like her too.

Whirling with her filly foal

We have more news of how Lord Oscar doing, and as you can see, he looks like he is doing extremely well.  He seems to be clearly enjoying his retirement, taking part in a variety of disciplines, including show jumping,1-day event and cross-country.  It is so lovely to see how well he has settled in to his new home and career.

Lord Oscar