- Monday, 26 February 2024 16:40
- Written by David Pipe
Lady Balko Winner at Taunton
Lady Balko followed up her win at Hereford with another success at Taunton last week carrying a seven pound penalty. This win was over 2m7f and she was a little keen in the early stages but she shows a great attitude and responded very well for pressure and it was a comfortable enough success at the line. We will find out what the handicapper does again on Tuesday morning but because she was five pounds “well in” I don’t think they can be too harsh. There are no immediate plans for her at present but hopefully there is more improvement to come from our five year old.
- Monday, 19 February 2024 15:27
- Written by David Pipe
Lady Balko Hereford Winner
Lady Balko was an impressive winner at Hereford on Valentine ’s Day for her owners the Micro Managers and she runs again at Taunton on Tuesday. She has improved with her two runs in handicap company and was a good second on her penultimate start to an improving rival at Leicester and it was nice she got her first win last week. She won by 19 lengths and we know the handicapper is going to put her up by more than seven pounds which is why we are running her quite quickly again with a penalty. She steps up in trip slightly tomorrow to 2m7f which will not inconvenience her, having won an Irish point to point earlier in her career. She faces four rivals and I hope she will win again.
- Monday, 12 February 2024 16:37
- Written by David Pipe
Ramses De Teillee Retires
It is with mixed emotions that I bring the news that Ramses De Teillee has been retired. Our gallant grey ran a super race in the veteran’s final at Warwick last month to be fourth but disappointed at Exeter yesterday and after discussing it with owners John White and Anne Underhill this morning we have decided to give him a well-deserved retirement. He has the desire and heart to still be a racehorse but his body can’t quite keep up!
- Monday, 05 February 2024 15:48
- Written by David Pipe
Ocean Heights Winner at Kempton
We had a winner under each code last week from just a handful of runners and it was nice to keep the score board ticking along. Ocean Heights was our final flat winner of 2023 and became the first of 2024 at Kempton last Wednesday evening. He has shown a real liking for the track having run well there on every start recently. He enjoyed stepping back up in distance and was given a lovely front running ride from apprentice Aiden Brookes. We didn’t really want to make the running but to ensure a true run race we decided to make our own pace and he controlled it very well from the front. We will wait to see what the handicapper does to him on Tuesday but hopefully he won’t put him up too much and we can head back to Kempton for a similar race at the beginning of March. I think he will improve more for stepping up in trip in due course but he is a strong traveller with a good attitude and it is brilliant to have him such good form at present.
- Monday, 29 January 2024 16:15
- Written by David Pipe
Kingofthewest Winner at Chepstow
Last week we teamed up with Harry Cobden while Jack Tudor was banned and recorded our first winner together with Kingofthewest winning at Chepstow. This was our eight year olds first win over fences and first win for a while so it was a particularly pleasing result. He hadn’t run too badly in three starts over the larger obstacles so far this season to be placed and we returned to cheek pieces as the headgear of choice instead of blinkers which he had been wearing of late.
- Monday, 22 January 2024 17:04
- Written by David Pipe
I have just returned from a lovely few days in Jamaica with Leanne and what a week we missed weather wise in the UK! I must start by thanking the team at home who kept the show on the road in difficult conditions, with frost and freezing temperatures before the wind and rain returned over the weekend.
- Monday, 15 January 2024 15:11
- Written by David Pipe
Royal Mer Leicester Winner
This week’s musings come from slightly sunnier and warmer climates than in Britain at the moment – I am in Jamaica! Leanne and I have headed to the Caribbean for a short break so thanks must go to the team at home for keeping the show on the road and Leanne’s mum Ang for looking after the children! We headed to Heathrow after racing at Warwick on Saturday and had a good journey over and safely arrived. It is a small world – we travelled over with the clerk of the course from Wetherby!
