- Tuesday, 26 December 2023 12:29
- Written by David Pipe
I hope everyone enjoyed a very Happy Christmas whatever you may have been up to. It as an early start for me, feeding up the horses before I popped back to the house for present opening with the children. Thankfully, now they are a little older it is not quite as early a start as in previous years but with Martha still only seven there is plenty of excitement! It was then back to the yard and first lot was out at normal time.
- Monday, 18 December 2023 15:18
- Written by David Pipe
This time next week I hope to be enjoying my Christmas dinner with the children having opened all their presents and myself having completed my usual morning work routine. Our staff choose to work either Christmas Day or New Year’s Day and it usually ends up a 50/50 split without me having to get involved! Those with children tend to like to be at home on Christmas Day while some actually like to see their horses and work both days. It is a tradition that has worked well at Pond House for many years. Leanne and I are hosting this year and will have all the family around the table plus a few extras which include members of staff who are away from their own families. It will be all hands on deck for feeding up on Christmas evening ahead of Boxing Day, which racing fans probably look forward to more than Christmas Day itself!
- Monday, 11 December 2023 16:01
- Written by David Pipe
Jurancon - Winning Stable Debut
We nearly started the week with a winner up at Ayr, but unfortunately Phantomofthepoints was chinned on the line on hurdling debut! Even though it is gutting to travel all that way and just get beaten, the winner won the bumper at Aintree in April and we both pulled well clear of the rest so it was a nice performance and he can win next time.
- Monday, 04 December 2023 15:58
- Written by David Pipe
Only Fools Winner at Ludlow
It’s hard to get away from talking about the weather at the moment so I am going to start with it here! It is crazy to think that on Saturday morning at Pond House we experienced the coldest morning for quite some time with water drinkers frozen and a big chill in the air. Fast forward the clock 48 hours and we had torrential rain and places began to flood!
- Monday, 27 November 2023 17:14
- Written by David Pipe
Ffos Las Winners: Itseemslikeit & Royal Mer
The horses continue in good form and it was nice to record a double at Ffos Las last week and start this one as we did the last, with a Monday Winner! Itseemslikeit and Royal Mer were our Ffos Las winners while Only Fools got her head in front for the first time over hurdles at Ludlow this afternoon.
- Monday, 20 November 2023 16:58
- Written by David Pipe
American Sniper Cheltenham Winner
Any Cheltenham winner is always special and I was delighted American Sniper won the opening race of the November meeting on Friday with Paricolor also running well to be third. I had given Gearoid Harney the choice of rides and it was not an easy decision for him as both horses did have chances beforehand. He canvassed opinion from everyone in the yard before making his own decision and unfortunately for him he was on the wrong one but if the race had been run slightly differently things might well have been different!
- Monday, 13 November 2023 15:56
- Written by David Pipe
Make Me A Believer Winner at Exeter
It was fantastic to have Make Me A Believer back in the winners enclosure at Exeter on Friday, winning his first race over fences in the hands of Jack Tudor. Our eight year old was having only the eighth run of his life having been a very good novice hurdler originally but then picking up a tendon injury and being off the track for nearly two years. Last season he did return to run in three chases and ran okay each time but he wasn’t the easiest to train behind the scenes. Since he returned from his summer holiday this time around however and since his wind operation he has had a smooth run of things and this reflected in his performance.
