Five Seconds!

With the dust having settled on Cheltenham for another year the jumps racing action has continued thick and fast. It has been a little frustrating from our end with our runners yielding five seconds in the last week but just not being able to get their head in front!! New Age Dawning ran as well as he ever done to be second at Taunton behind a progressive rival. The track did not really play to his strengths and he was flat out all the way but stayed galloping through the line so you cannot ask for more. 

Last Quarter gets called a few names at times for his effort levels but he could not be faulted at Ffos Las last week, battling well up the run in and literally just missing out on winning by the bob of the heads. Barrier Peaks could not quite bring up his five timer, finishing second at Chepstow on Thursday. He ran a gallant race in defeat but he was not perhaps at his best and I think there is still more to come off his mark of 104.  Royal Mer returned from a wind operation with a much better performance to be second at Hereford on Friday. He would have preferred the ground to be softer ideally but this was a step back in the right direction and he can be winning soon. Kepagge followed up his win at Ffos Las with a good effort to be second at Exeter on Sunday. He has not always been the most consistent so it was good he has put in two solid back to back performances. Off a five pound higher mark he battled well and I am looking forward to him going chasing next autumn.

Chepstow Hospitality

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Chepstow for their help with looking after all the members of the David Pipe Racing Club last week. We had lots of members wishing to go to watch our two runners and they were very obliging in accommodating our needs. In fairness, all ARC and Jockey Club racecourses have been great to work with in recent months regarding tickets. Most now have syndicate rooms where light refreshments are provided and this has proven a great initiative. Everyone who works in racing has a responsibility to get people firstly involved in our sport and secondly then to keep them in it. We all have our part to play in this and the enjoyment and experience our racing club members get from being involved with our yard gives us great pride. We get many messages saying how much fun and pleasure they all get and everyone’s interest has to start somewhere.  Our racing club costs £120 for the year and members currently have eight horses carrying their black and while sills. They get regular runners and therefore days out at the races.  Members get regular email and video updates and a stable visit to Pond House once a season. All prize money gets reinvested back into the club and we have over a 200 strong membership at the moment with room for more!!

Ownership Opportunities

We also have other shared ownership options available for those that would like to invest a little more and be involved in a small partnership. We are currently in the process of putting together a group of about 10 people investing approx. £4,000 each so if this sounds of any interest please do get in touch for more information This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 01884 840715.

This Week

We are likely to be a little quieter on the runners front with Abaya Du Mathan are only runner at Huntingdon on Tuesday and then nothing on Wednesday.  We have a few entries at Taunton on Thursday and Sizing Pottsie may head to Wetherby on Friday.  Looking ahead to the weekend we have entries at all three jumps meeting at Stratford, Uttoxeter and Ascot.  Keep checking the daily blog for more news of our runners.

Weather Update

As March comes to a close I was just having a look at the rainfall we have recorded at Pond House during the month.  With an unseasonably dry February where we were wanting rain and only 14mm falling, we have now had one of the wettest March’s we have ever recorded.  We have had over 120mm so far this month which rates as the second wettest March since 2001 although with a few days left until the end of the month and rain forecast we are not far behind 2018’s 130mm total and so we might beat that one!  Then begs the questions about what will happen next month.  The last three April’s in particular have been very dry, with 23, 12.5 and 30 mm of rain falling.  I wouldn’t be surprised that a dry April will follow a wet March but I guess we will just all have to wait and see!

Remastered

We made the decision last week to scratch Remastered from this year’s Randox Grand National.  While disappointing not to have a representative this year and I feel the horse has the right credentials to run well in the race, we could not take him to Aintree on the back of his last two runs.  He has had a terrific first half to the season but has been disappointing in his last two races despite being in good form at home.  We are in the process of giving him a full MOT to see if there are any underlying issues that come to light but that is likely to be it for him for the season and we look forward to getting him back in A1 condition in the autumn. 

Grand National Fences

Our Grand National practice fences are in place and ready for use ahead of Aintree next month.  Trainers Joe Tizzard and Syd Hosie have already been on the phone and are likely to be coming to Pond House this week to school their horses.