- 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.
We covered the woodchip gallop every night which takes a bit of people power but the staff by the end of the week had the process of putting it on and taking in off down to a fine art. Covering it, combined with the good tractor work of gallop man Mike meant the daily routine was not interrupted. All our stables have water drinkers but the low temperatures mean freezing pipes and therefore water buckets with warm water were needed. Things began to warm up through the course of Friday evening into Saturday morning and then the rain and wind has returned!
The big freeze of course meant nearly all of the jumps meetings last week were abandoned but still the entries had to be made, the declarations had to be made, plans were made by us and owners only for it all to be cancelled! In fairness, I thought the racecourses did a great job last week, decisions were made early and there were not too many last minute or frustrating decisions. It was pretty clear and obvious for all that after a few nights of temperatures falling below zero there was not much chance of racing going ahead for many of the courses. The covers do a good job to a certain point but can’t keep out the frost when it gets so low. Two jumps meetings did beat the weather last week, Hereford on Monday and Southwell on Tuesday. We just had the one runner at Hereford but Ya Know Yaseff put in a rare disappointing display and the writing was on the wall from very early on. We have found her to be in season since the run which is a likely reason for the lack lustre performance and so I am sure she can bounce back next time.
Kintaro made his stable debut on the all-weather at Lingfield on Saturday. He finishes seventh but Rob Hornby said he galloped all the way to the line and may appreciate a step up in distance. He has schooled well at home and a juvenile hurdle will be on the cards at some point. On Sunday it was great for Lingfield that there final day of their Winter Million Festival went ahead after losing the Friday jumps card. Only The Bold ran in the Surrey National and while he has been a little out of sorts this season this was a slightly more encouraging display. We will drop him back to three miles next time with some softer conditions.
Our runners on Monday afternoon ran well. Ben Lilly was the outsider of the race but put up another solid performance to be third at Plumpton while Shot Boii ran a good race to be second at Warwick off a seven pound higher mark than he won off last time at Hereford. Kauto Kawai showed more but might need a bit more help from the handicapper.
This Week
Fingers crossed, the jumps fixtures this week will go ahead as planned! We have a busy Tuesday with eight runners across the two jumps meetings at Leicester and Newbury. Vision De Maine and Tough Approach run in the two divisions of the maiden hurdle at Newbury, both returning from recent wind surgery and hopefully progressing from their hurdling debuts. Jurancon runs in the concluding bumper on the card. He was impressive on winning at Chepstow but does have to carry a penalty in a useful looking race on paper so it will be tough. Whatever happens today he is a nice young horse for the future.
Tuesday’s Newbury meeting is the first to be televised on Sky Sports Racing after the switch from Racing TV. The switch has meant the racecourse has been able to boost prize money by £1 million pounds for the year which is very welcome.
We have five runners at Leicester and Only Fools is giving an opportunity for young Rian Corcoran to have his first ride to me. Rian is 16 years of age and has been coming to Pond House in his school holidays for a while now. He has ridden two point to point winners aboard Itacare who is leased to his family by Somerset racing and he has ridden lots of pony race winners with champion apprentice Billy Loughnane one of his good friends. Rian is in his last year at school and hopes to join us full time in the summer. He is also getting some invaluable experiences working alongside multiple champion point to point rider Will Biddick and he has a bright future ahead of him. Only Fools is a very honest and genuine little mare who runs in the colours of the David Pipe Racing Club. She won last time out at Ludlow and so hopefully has a good chance at Leicester. The race is for riders to have ridden less than 10 winners and is a great opportunity for young and inexperienced jockeys to have a chance and gain experience.
The rest of our Leicester team is made up of Moodofthemoment, Royal Mer, King Turgeon and Sizing Pottsie. If the track gets the forecast rain then conditions will be testing and will suit all of our horses. While Moodofthemoment needs to show a lot more than of late, Royal Mer was a course winner last time over slightly shortly. His form figures since going chasing read 121 and I don’t see why he can’t continue to progress. King Turgeon made a bright start to the season and won at Exeter but was a little below par when last in action at Wincanton before Christmas. We have given him a break since then and arrived here fresh and well. It is a competitive race but he has a good each way chance. The same can be said of Sizing Pottsie who ran well on his seasonal reappearance and disappointed last time but he will enjoy conditions.
On Wednesday we just have the one runner, Kingofthewest at Chepstow and Harry Cobden rides as Jack Tudor is banned. Later in the week we have entries at Wetherby, Sandown, Uttoxeter and Doncaster so keep checking the Daily News for the latest information on the stable runners.
