Improving Gentleman

     Gentleman Toboot Exeter Winner

Gentleman Toboot put in a nice performance to make it two from two over hurdle at Exeter on Friday.  The drop back in trip did not inconvenience our five-year-old and he dominated from the front and galloped on strongly to the line when Jack Tudor asked him for his effort.  He and the runner up pulled nicely clear of the rest with us conceding a penalty to that rival who looks decent.  Gentleman Toboot’s jumping in the main was better than it had been on debut but there is still room for improvement when it gets to the business end of the race.  Two miles on a galloping trip would be his ideal conditions at the moment and the softer the ground the better.  He will have to go up in grade next time but he is a horse I hold in high regard.  He is lightly raced and improving with each start so I there is plenty more to come from this likeable imposing individual.

American Sniper ran well enough to be third at Plumpton last week with the track getting too much rain for his liking before his race.  He has an entry at Taunton on Thursday this week and is likely to run again.

Walkadina returned to form with a good run at Ludlow to finish second, narrowly beaten on the line.  Dropped back in trip to 2 miles from her seasonal reappearance she travelled and jumped very well.  Jack Tudor produced her to lead going well after the third last hurdle and things looked good until the run in and we were just collared close to the line.  It was a pleasing performance from our mare who did nothing wrong and she may head to Ascot next, just before Christmas.

Jaipaletemps ran another solid race to be third at Haydock last week.  The rain unfortunately didn’t come for him (would have preferred it softer) but he ran well in a competitive event and always runs his race.  Chemical Dave ran with promise in the bumper at Market Rasen, not quite getting the run of things at a crucial stage but staying on strongly to the line when he got a clear run.  He has a likeable attitude and was much more switched on having learnt a lot from his debut last season.  He will run in a similar race in a few weeks’ time where I would hope he can win one of these.  Eton Mes also made an encouraging hurdling debut at Chepstow to finish fourth. 

Turenne was unlucky to fall at the last hurdle on Monday afternoon at Fontwell with the race at his mercy.  He had led and jumped well and was three lengths clear at the last when he came down.  Thankfully, both Jack and the horse seem none the worse for this fall at the time of writing and as long as he is okay in the coming days he looks a nice prospect for further juvenile hurdle success in the future.

This Week

We have three runners at Uttoxeter on Tuesday, Phantomofthepoints gets us underway and makes his chasing debut in the Beginners chase.  There may be only three runners but they are good ones and the favourite could prove difficult to beat but it looks a good opportunity to start him over the larger obstacles.  He ran a cracker in the big staying handicap hurdle at Haydock last time to be third and he has plenty of size and scope to make into an even better chaser.

Purple Owl runs in the novice’s hurdle and returns a to track he ran well at on his seasonal reappearance to be second.  He was a little disappointing at Lingfield when we tried him over a little further last time and so hopefully a return to two miles will suit along with the addition of a tongue tie.  I don’t think he will appreciate too much rain so hopefully Uttoxeter won’t feel the full force of the storm due overnight.

The giant, Itseemslikeit (he is the biggest horse in our yard), makes his chasing debut in the three-mile handicap chase.  He is very lightly raced and just had the two starts over hurdles last season so it will be good to get him back on the track, though don’t tell him he is running yet as something is bound to go wrong!  He was all set to make his chasing debut last season before a cut the day before he was due to run kept him off for a long time!  Three mile chasing ought to be his forte and it will be good to get him out and hopefully give us something to build on going forwards.

On Wednesday, Green Sky runs in the two-mile maiden hurdle at Hereford which divided and Bashful Boy runs on the all-weather at Kempton.  Later in the week we have entries at Taunton on Thursday and Kingston Queen and King Turgeon hold entries at Cheltenham on Friday.  On Sunday we have entries at Carlisle and Southwell.  Keep checking the daily news on the website for all the latest stable information.

Point to Point News

Ben Lilly finished third in the Men’s Open point to point at Wadebridge on Sunday.  Ashley Dascombe rode him, his first ride for me and gave him a good ride on what was our eight year olds chasing debut.  It was a small but competitive field and it was a good run.  He probably needed the outing after a long time off the track and the plan is for him to go back to Cornwall for a similar race at the track after Christmas.  Martin McIntyre, James Shaw and Mila Holmes were all in action on the day with James doing best with a couple of seconds but unfortunately no winners for the team but are all back in one piece with the action moving to Larkhill next weekend.

Godolphin Stable Staff Awards

Congratulations to Gemma in the office who has been short listed for the Godolphin Stable Staff Dedication Award.  Leanne and I nominated her without her knowledge and she heard last week that she has made the top ten which is a great honour in itself.  She now has to take part in two telephone interviews from which the top three will make it through to the awards evening in February 2026.  As many of you know, Gemma has been in the office now for nearly 22 years and is the central cog at Pond House so it was great for her to she shortlisted in the top ten.

Royal Mer

Last week, I mentioned that Royal Mer was for sale to say in the yard.  I am delighted to say he has been purchased by some existing owners at Pond House who are putting together a little syndicate to own him.  There are a couple of shares remaining so you if you would like to know more and get involved in his ownership please do let us know and we will pass on your details to the man in charge! A quick reminder of his details:

He is a gorgeous grey, seven years old and he measures at nearly 16.2hh.    He has won five races over fences from 16 starts and been placed on another five occasions as well and he has earned over £46,000 in prize money so far.   He loves the mud and the softer the ground the better and he is ready to run as soon as he has a new owner.  He found last season a little tougher with his rating having rocketed to 123 but now back down to 112 he is starting from a winnable mark and promises to give connections a lot of fun in the coming months.

Please click the link below to see his form below:

https://www.racingpost.com/profile/horse/4566465/royal-mer/form

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 01884 840715.