- Tuesday, 10 April 2012 15:57
- Written by David Pipe
I guess this is the calm before the storm…there is no jumping this afternoon or tomorrow, before Aintree’s Grand National meeting kicks off the National Hunt action again on Thursday. We will have a small but select team heading up to Liverpool that will include the likes of Battle Group who was successful at the meeting twelve months ago, dual Cheltenham Festival hero Buena Vista, the highly promising Our Father, Big Occasion and Matuhi who will run in the Topham Chase as well as our Grand National runners Junior and Swing Bill.
- Tuesday, 03 April 2012 08:19
- Written by David Pipe
With just under four weeks of the season remaining, we find ourself on the 91 winner mark thanks to the successes of Arab League, Weekend Millionair and Roi de Rose last week. As I stated then, I would be very satisfied if we could reach 100 winners for the campaign, especially when you consider just how competitive the sport is these days. It is entirely conceivable that there could be six trainers who send out a hundred winners this season, and I certainly don’t recall the last time that happened!
- Monday, 26 March 2012 15:30
- Written by David Pipe
Although we had a few runners, last week seemed rather surreal following the chaos that is the Cheltenham Festival! It certainly wasn’t as busy, with runners at only Exeter and Newbury but I am pleased that it proved to be a productive one with another four winners to add to the tally.
- Monday, 19 March 2012 17:05
- Written by David Pipe
Breaking news folks…there are only 358 days left until the Cheltenham Festival! Seriously though, it is hard to believe that the 2012 Festival has been and gone and we have some good performances to look back on, as well as a Cheltenham winner that takes my overall Festival tally to eight. Salut Flo was of course the highlight of the week for us when landing the Byrne Group Chase in good style – fortunately he also helped with my credibility as he was considered my “banker” of the meeting (if there can ever be such a thing as a banker at the pinnacle of jumps racing!).
- Monday, 12 March 2012 12:48
- Written by David Pipe
Well, the waiting is nearly over and the 2012 Cheltenham Festival is now less than 24 hours away. One of the questions that has been on everyone’s lips, is which race does Grands Crus go for? Well, I am pleased to announce that after weeks of careful deliberation and consultation with his owner, he will go for the RSA Novices’ Chase on the Wednesday.
- Monday, 05 March 2012 16:58
- Written by David Pipe
We are down to the last week before the Cheltenham Festival and the winners continue to flow from the yard and I was thrilled with the victories of Poole Master and Balgarry last week. Both could be lively contenders at the Cheltenham Festival next week.
Poole Master stretched his unbeaten run this season to three with an impressive success under a double penalty at Newbury on Friday in the hands of regular rider Chris Honour. The step up in trip certainly seemed to suit him well and he will run next at the Cheltenham Festival where he has multiple engagements, although the Coral Cup is looking most likely at this stage.
- Monday, 27 February 2012 16:24
- Written by David Pipe
How much excitement can one man take? I don’t mind telling you my nerves are just about shot and I’m not sleeping very much either! Not only is it only a fortnight to Cheltenham, but today is D-day, or to put it another way - the due date of my second child. Leanne is calm and relaxed about the whole thing as ever, so why am I the one having the sleepless nights?! I will of course let you know what we have after we have greeted the new arrival to our family.
- Tuesday, 21 February 2012 17:32
- Written by David Pipe
Looking back, it was another good week with a handful of winners and many other notable performances. I was given the best possible Valentine’s present when The Tracey Shuffle bolted up at Ayr on Tuesday making the long trip up to Scotland worthwhile. Sadly I was not able to witness it first hand as I was at the Grand National weights luncheon, although I understand Racegoers were treated to a demonstration of the Tracey Shuffle by winning owner Sean Tracey. I am sure that it would have been worth the cost of admission alone and it could become one of those dance crazes like the moonwalk!
- Monday, 13 February 2012 19:43
- Written by David Pipe
Unfortunately it has been a quiet week on the racing front and there seemed to be more poignant news than usual, notably the sad passing of legendary Grand National winning trainer Josh Gifford as well as our own inmate, Bobby Ewing.
- Monday, 06 February 2012 14:00
- Written by David Pipe
Junior
Well thankfully temperatures have risen markedly at Pond House over the weekend and I hope we get a clear run of things with the racing this week. Having said that Sedgefield and Market Rasen are off tomorrow and we are waiting to hear about Carlisle on Wednesday. I do think at least our closest track, Taunton will go ahead on Thursday which will be good. It was minus 8c at 7.30am on Friday morning, the coldest of the winter so far. It did snow on Saturday morning but then things warmed up fairly quickly and we had rain in the afternoon. I would just like to pay a special mention to the whole team at Pond House for all their hard work, particularly over the last few days. Although we are quite lucky compared to several places the weather does make things extra hard work. All the normal jobs still have to be done but extra things like water buckets being topped up and ice free need to be done as the drinkers are frozen and have to be taken care of. Thanks to everyone's efforts the gallops were kept open and the horses did not miss out on any work.
