- Monday, 27 June 2016 12:32
- Written by David Pipe
It is that time of the year again when I look forward to my annual trip to France for the Arqana Summer Sales. It is one of those dates that I have pencilled in the calendar from an early stage every year and I always look forward to attending. Not only is the Arqana catalogue always packed full of promising young talent, we also make an enjoyable trip out of it as we spend a few days with friends and owners soaking up the cosmopolitan atmosphere of Deauville on the north coast of France.
- Monday, 20 June 2016 18:36
- Written by David Pipe
When it comes to writing my blog during the summer months there is always the danger that things begin to sound a little like deja-vu! Once again it looks as though it is going to be a quiet week with National Hunt fixtures rather thin on the ground. Nevertheless, we will have a few runners over the sticks, not least at the valuable meeting at Uttoxeter on Sunday, while we will also have a runner on the level at Salisbury on Wednesday.
- Monday, 13 June 2016 14:56
- Written by David Pipe
It was a quiet week on the track last week with just a handful of runners although we were on the mark again courtesy of Gabrial The Great at Newton Abbot. Meanwhile the majority of our other runners also performed with credit and I am pleased with the form of the stable at present. Off the track, I enjoyed participating in a friendly cricket match at the weekend as a Jockey’s XI took on Arbuthnot Latham Sporting Celebrity XI in aid of the Injured Jockeys Fund and the Tom Maynard Trust. To learn how we fared, read on…
- Monday, 06 June 2016 10:44
- Written by David Pipe
Castlemorris King -- Winner at Worcester
I had an enjoyable few days in Portugal last week with the family and it was nice to have a few winners as well. I was back and at Worcester to witness Castlemorris King win on his stable debut. I claimed the horse after he won at the track about a fortnight ago and it was brilliant to get him to win for new owners Stuart and Simon Mercer on the first attempt. He jumped and travelled well and was always just doing enough in front to win by a neck under a good ride from Tom Scu. He could well mix hurdling, novice chasing as well as on the flat over the summer months and should give his owners plenty of fun. Read more...
- Monday, 30 May 2016 12:00
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
Last week was a good one for the stable with a couple of winners over the sticks taking our tally for the new campaign to six, while we also enjoyed success on the level with our only runner when Starchitect scored at Salisbury on Saturday. With a couple more additions from the sales at Cheltenham, there is certainly enough to keep everybody busy during the ‘off-season’.
- Monday, 23 May 2016 15:16
- Written by David Pipe
It was good to break a frustrating run of places last week when Perspicace (pictured above) managed to get his head in front at Worcester on Thursday and notch our fourth success of the season. Meanwhile, I was kept busy with a visit to the sales at Doncaster where I was pleased to bolster our squad with the addition of several nice prospects who I hope you will be hearing plenty more of in the coming months.
- Monday, 16 May 2016 14:49
- Written by David Pipe
While the string remain in good form, unfortunately the frustrating run of results continued last week with the vast majority of runners reaching the frame without quite getting their heads in front. Indeed, from our eleven runners we recorded a couple of runners-up and no less than five fourths! On the positive side it shows that the horses remain in good order, although we will be hoping to get back into the winners enclosure this week!
- Monday, 09 May 2016 15:53
- Written by David Pipe
Purple 'N Gold - 1000th Winner
With the old season behind us you would think that it was time for a break, but far from it…despite the 2016/17 National Hunt season being only a few days old, we are as busy now as at most times during the season. The list of tasks is a little different of course, as well as the business of training the horses for the ‘off-season’ fixtures; we are preparing the paddocks to turn many of them out for their summer breaks, while of course trawling the catalogues in search for new talent to strengthen the team yet further. Winter or summer, there is certainly no let-up in the pace around Pond House!
- Monday, 02 May 2016 09:26
- Written by David Pipe
Katkeau - First Winner of the Season
After a few days break the new season has started with a bang and fixtures are coming thick and fast over the coming days. It was great to get on the board with the first winner of the season courtesy of Katkeau at Uttoxeter on Saturday. Having run well in the Midlands National on his last run before seeming to not quite staying the trip I was confident he would bounce back to form and he did under a great ride from Tom Scu. A mistake 3 out cost him valuable lengths but he battled all the way to the line to narrowly prevail. Plans on what he does next are undecided but France is an option after he was placed over hurdles there last summer while I wouldn't rule out him taking on the Summer National at Uttoxeter. All will depend on ground conditions as he does prefer a bit of give underfoot.
- Monday, 25 April 2016 15:26
- Written by David Pipe
The 2015/16 season has drawn to a close and the team at Pond House posted a respectable eighty winners for the campaign and netted almost £1.2 million in prize money. There is no time for resting on your laurels however as the 2016/17 season follows hot on the heels of the old one with the new campaign beginning on Wednesday. The scores are all set back to zero and it is time to put in the hard graft and lay the foundations for the coming season. With that in mind I have been busy at the sales of late and have a few promising new faces among the equine ranks at the stable.
