- Monday, 22 April 2024 13:58
- Written by David Pipe
It was great to end the last week with a winner at Wincanton on Sunday with Manuelito winning division two of the novices hurdle over two miles with Jack Tudor riding. He is a lovely big four year old, son of Cracksman, the first I have trained from this sire. He had a few runs on the flat in the same ownership for Richard Hannon as a two and three year old and while he ran okay, he did not set the world alight and you can see why when you look at him. He has just strengthened and matured all winter, we have taken our time with him, and thankfully, it seems to have paid off.
- Monday, 15 April 2024 15:30
- Written by David Pipe
The week started well last week with another Monday winner courtesy of Royal Mer winning for the fifth time this season. He has really enjoyed the switch to fences, especially the drop back to two miles and this success brought up a hat trick of wins. Since our six year old went chasing in November he has won five times and been second twice, the only time unplaced, he did not stay over a longer trip. His rating started on 93 for his first win a Ffos Las and his win at Wincanton was off a mark of 116 and it was his most impressive to date. He is due to go up ten pounds for that win from tomorrow but we do have him entered at Ayr on Friday where he can run with a penalty. His slick jumping is his biggest asset and he loves soft ground, the softer the better. Providing the ground remains soft, he is likely to have another run before his summer holiday.
- Monday, 08 April 2024 13:35
- Written by David Pipe
Phantomofthepoints Winner at Chepstow
We started last week with a winner on Easter Monday at Chepstow, Phantomofthepoints. I was delighted to get this first win over hurdles for our six year old, as he has been very consistent all season. He finished second in a bumper on stable debut, a very close second on hurdling debut at Ayr and second at Hexham more recently. He had just the one below par run at Ascot where going right handed was not to his advantage.
- Monday, 01 April 2024 09:08
- Written by David Pipe
Jurancon after winning at Hereford!
The horses continue to be in good form and it was great to add another three winners to the tally last week and take the seasons total to 42. It could have nearly been more with two seconds at Taunton and a second at Hereford as well. Manuelito improved on his hurdling debut third to be a better second behind a useful rival. He is a lovely big four year old capable of winning over hurdles on some proper spring ground.
- Monday, 25 March 2024 14:37
- Written by David Pipe
Bumpy Johnson after his win!
It was great to get three winners last week and take our seasons tally to 39. Only Fools got the week off to a great start by winning at Fontwell on Monday. She was a winner at Ludlow earlier in the season and has run consistently well bar one below par effort at Plumpton on her last run. She bounced right back to form at Fontwell, under slightly different tactics and pulled well clear of her rivals from two out. She is only small but jumps well and does not seem to mind what the ground conditions are. She is declared to run at Hereford on Wednesday and I think she has a good chance again. The handicapper is putting her up seven pounds for her win. Technically we did not have to run her again quickly as she is running off her correct future mark of 89 but she has come out of Fontwell so well this race looks another suitable opportunity.
- Monday, 18 March 2024 15:39
- Written by David Pipe
Lady Balko Winner at Taunton Again
The last week has flown by in the blink of an eye and it is hard to believe that Cheltenham has been and gone already! While we ended up with just the two runners, I was still up there every day hosting our marquee and it is a tiring week being up extra early to get all the work done and driving up and back each day.
- Monday, 11 March 2024 10:40
- Written by David Pipe
Royal Mer Leicester Winner
I have only had six runners in the last week, but it was good to add to the winners tally with Royal Mer winning at Leicester on Friday. Our six-year-old was winning for the third time this season over fences and we teamed up with Harry Cobden with Jack at Exeter. It was another great local win for his owner Sam Sutton and our grey did not mind dropping back in trip to 2 miles. When we first started out this season, I thought staying trips would bring out the best in him but despite winning twice over 2m3f and 2m4f, when we have gone up in trip further, he has not quite seen out the extra distance. I think the key to him is the ground and it cannot be soft enough and he showed plenty of speed, travelling powerfully in his races and scoring quite impressively this time.
