- Monday, 27 October 2025 14:48
- Written by David Pipe
We had just the three runners last week and while Order of the Dance could not back up his Ffos Las win, Harry Junior made a pleasing handicap debut at Worcester to be second. Hindsight is a wonderful thing and we should have taken Order of the Dance out following rain on the day, which softened the ground too much for his liking. Jockey Callum Pritchard did the sensible thing in pulling him up and we will make sure he is back on a sounder surface next time.
Harry Junior appreciated stepping up in trip to 2m4f and probably will want further again at some stage. He travelled and jumped well and held every chance before the winner extended away on the run in. The winner was probably a well-handicapped rival and I do not think the handicapper can put our five-year-old up too much for this run and so I would hope we could go one better next time.
Bashful Boy was a non-runner on the flat at Nottingham last Thursday after their going changed following overnight rain. While he has some form on soft, he does prefer better ground and when heavy was in the going description, we decided to wait for another day. He has won on the all-weather and we may look for a staying race on the artificial surface at some point.
American Sniper ran okay to appoint in his race at Cheltenham on Friday. He usually needs his first run of the season and will be much sharper for this outing next time.
This Week
We have six runners at Newton Abbot on Wednesday and Gentleman Toboot will make his hurdling debut in the opening novice contest on the card. He is a horse we hold in high regard with some good bumper form in the book and we are very much looking forward to getting his jumping career started. He will be joined at Newton Abbot by Green Sky in the conditional jockey’s handicap hurdle and she is making her stable debut. She will be partnered by Robbie David who used to work at Pond House as Rian Corcoran is still out of action following his fall at the track nine days ago. Rian is hoping to pass his concussion test this week with the aim of being back riding at the weekend.
Green Sky was a purchased from Doncaster sales in May and after a summer holiday she is pleasing us at home. She was last in action at Ayr in April, finishing second in a race where the form has worked out very well. My son Jack rides her quite a lot at home and he says she goes well so we will find out if he is a good judge! There is still a 10% share left in her ownership so if anyone would like to get involved and have instant action, please do get in touch!
It is great to have two runners at Newton Abbot on Wednesday who will carry the colours of South West Rail Solutions. Punta Del Este runs in the 2m5f handicap hurdle and Eton Mes in the bumper on the card. Eton Mes is a lovely youngster who has summered well and will be go hurdling but this looks a good starting point for him. South West Rail Solutions put a lot back into racing through sponsorship and are sponsoring three of the races on the card at Newton Abbot so fingers crossed they can have some success in the races themselves. Pachacuti runs in the 2m4f handicap chase along with Givehimthehonour and I would hope the former is starting from a good handicap mark this season from which to progress.
Mancero holds entries and Stratford on Thursday and Uttoxeter on Friday, while at the weekend Neon Moon is likely to head back to Ascot for the Sodexo Live handicap chase over three miles, a race that he finished third in last season. We also have entries at Ayr and Carlisle over the weekend so keep checking the Daily News on the website for all the latest news on the stable runners.
Newmarket Sales
I am currently at Newmarket for the Autumn Horses in Training sales this week in which there are over 1600 horses on offer for sale. It was a joint effort from myself, Jack and Leanne to go through the catalogue from which we have made a shortlist of potential hurdlers and dual-purpose prospects. The plan is to look at all the horses we have picked out on Monday and Tuesday before returning home and we can bid online later in the week if we are interested. We have bought well from these sales in years gone by but it is much harder to get the same sort of horses that you used to be able to. Far more horses these days are being bought to race abroad and the price of the middle distance horses on the flat has rocketed. There are hidden gems to look out for however and while Leanne and Jack just missed out on a horse at the Doncaster sales last week, we will see what we can do this time around!
Vieux Lion Rouge at Aintree
Vieux Lion Rouge went to Aintree on Sunday to parade and then help present the prizes in the veteran’s chase, which was named in his honour. Bob, Julie B and Professor Caroline Tisdall travelled him up to Liverpool and despite the weather being a little wet and windy they all had a good day, especially the horse himself. As in his racing days, Aintree brings him alive and he looked amazing going back to his favourite racecourse. He now resides with the Coles family in Devon and those of you who follow social media may have seen him in the posts made by Callie Coles (over 1.1 million followers on Instagram). He is certainly enjoying the beach and moorland life and will be returning there later this week.
He will always hold a special place in Pond House hearts for all that he achieved in his racing days, he won 13 races in his career from 41 starts and this included two wins in the Becher Chase at Aintree and he also finished runner up in the race as well. He won just over £344,000 in prize money in his career and holds the modern day record of the most Grand National fences jumped, 254! He also ran in five Grand Nationals, which is an amazing feat on its own. He will be back at Aintree in April to parade again on National Day.
Strictly Come Dancing
This coming Sunday evening I shall be travelling to Newbury racecourse to support Tom and Sara Malone plus all the other dancers who are taking part in the Racing Welfare charity Strictly Coming Dancing event. Trainers Dan Skelton, Tim Vaughn and Jamie Snowden are amongst those taking to the dance floor as is flat jockey Finley Marsh. I know they have all been practicing hard and it should be a fun evening that will hopefully raise lots of money for the charity. The event will be live streamed as well so I will try and let you know how you might be able to watch it later in the week. Best of luck to all of those taking part. You can donate to Tom and Sara’s page by following the link below:
https://racingwelfare.enthuse.com/pf/tom-malone-728b7
