- Wednesday, 11 March 2026 07:46
- Written by G Edwards
Matt Chapman & David doing the Tips
I hope everyone enjoyed the action from the first day of the Festival yesterday, I did and I even managed to find a couple of winners which is always a good thing! I was at Cheltenham yesterday helping in a marquee and there was some great racing and a fabulous atmosphere in or marquee and on the course in general I thought. They seemed to have made a few changes for the better and to me it appeared to work well. I believe there was a slightly bigger crowd than there was last year and everything was positive. The horses are always the stars of the show and Lossiemouth winning the champion hurdle was very special. Matt Chapman and David did the tips in our marquee before racing and would you believe they actually did quite well with winners between them! It was also nice to see Ramses De Teillee parading before racing in the ROR parade.
- Tuesday, 10 March 2026 07:06
- Written by G Edwards
Way of Stars Winner at Taunton
It was great to get a first win over hurdles with Way Of Stars at Taunton yesterday in the colours of Jopla Racing. I thought he would run well and I am glad that he did! He travelled and jumped well and from a prominent position throughout he took up the lead with a good jump at the second last hurdle. He then battled on well to the line just holding off the favourite who was closing close home. This was just his third start over hurdles and he has improved on each run and seemed to enjoy the quicker ground conditions underfoot this time. He has a great attitude and there is plenty more fun to be had with him going forwards.
- Monday, 09 March 2026 08:13
- Written by G Edwards
Jack Pipe Winner at Charlton Horethorne
For as long as I can remember we have the traditional Cheltenham Festival eve of racing today with three jumps meetings at Taunton, Stratford and Plumpton. We have four runners at out most local track, Taunton and we look forward to them and Cheltenham for the rest of the week. Way of Stars and Mancero will be partnered by Jack Tudor this afternoon while Rian Corcoran is on board Follow the Plan and Final Entry. Way of Stars and Follow the Plan both run in the maiden hurdle at 2.40pm and despite it looking a very competitive race on paper, I hope Way of Stars has a very good chance, Follow the Plan will need further in time when handicapping most likely and is best watched today. Way of Stars has just had the two starts over hurdles and ran well in both but settled much better in the first time hood at Taunton last time when just getting nabbed on the line to be second. He will appreciate the drying ground and he has a great attitude. The horse that finished just behind him last time reopposes so it is not going to be easy and the current favourite is a horse all Gnomon who was rated two pound inferior to us on the flat and is rated higher over hurdles than us currently but he does have to give us weight. I wouldn't swap our fell and he is out best chance of a winner today.
- Sunday, 08 March 2026 07:24
- Written by Chelsea Morgan
Harry Junior Exeter Winner
It was great to get another win from Harry Junior at Exeter on Friday. He was given a lovely front running ride from Jack Tudor and he battled on well when challenged by the favourite from two out. He is a relatively lightly raced six year old who is still learning on the job but he shows a great attitude. We gave him a mid-season break as he does not like the ground too testing and it was nice to see him return to action with a bang. There is still scope for improvement after he has been reassessed by the handicapper and he will be even better over fences next season. Givehimthehonour was our final runner on Friday at Exeter and the ground was a bit too lively for him and he found everything happening a bit too quickly for him. He is absolutely fine after the race and it will rain again very soon!
- Saturday, 07 March 2026 07:00
- Written by G Edwards
Gentleman Toboot runs at Sandown Today
We have two runners at Sandown today on what is Imperial Cup day. While we don't have any runners in that race we have Turenne and Gentleman Toboot representing us at the Esher track and Jack Tudor rides both. Turenne goes in the opening juvenile handicap hurdle on the card at 1.15pm and is looking for his first win in Britain. He is unlucky not to have won so far and I hope today can be his day. He lost out in a photo finish on debut at Catterick and then would have won at Fontwell when he fell at the last hurdle. The Bellhop would have been a well beaten second on that day and reopposes this afternoon. Turenne was then a little disappointing at Ffos las last time in finishing third but he was far too keen that day and things did just not work out. The handicapper has given him a chance and I think he is now well treated and can make his mark in this, his first handicap. It is a tough race and he is one of the outsiders but he has a good each way chance.
- Friday, 06 March 2026 08:06
- Written by G Edwards
Royal Mer Winner at Wincanton Again!
Royal Mer made it back to back wins at Wincanton with another admirable performance carrying top weight and he was given another lovely ride by Rian Corcoran. Our eight year old is wonderfully consistent and it is great to see him in such good heart. This was his seventh career win over fences from 21 starts and add that to eleven placed efforts as well and you can see why he is he is adored here at Pond House. We know he loves heavy ground and that was my only worry ahead of racing yesterday that the ground was going to have dried out a bit too much for him but he looked happy from the start of the race and seemed to be enjoying it which is always a good sign. The extra 2m4 distance is no problem at all and even though he won over two miles last time we actually think he will stay three! He seems fine this morning and we will see what the weather does before making any plans but I am sure if it rains again he will be running and hopefully there may be another race back at Wincanton as he seem to love it there!
- Thursday, 05 March 2026 08:05
- Written by G Edwards
Royal Mer runs at Wincanton Today
There are two jumps meetings today at Haydock and Wincanton and we have three runners at the latter, October Hill, Penn Avenue and Royal Mer. October Hill goes in the opening conditional jockeys handicap hurdle over three miles and Rian Corcoran rides taking off his handy six pounds in this. He has actually ridden her in all three of her starts for us and she ran very well on her first two starts but you can forgive her her last run as it rained all day up at Doncaster and she did not enjoy the soft conditions last time. She will prefer the sounder surface today and she gives us the impression that she will just keep galloping all day and so she should appreciate the three miles for the first time this afternoon. There are nine runners and it looks quite an open affair and we are about 9/1 in the betting. I think she is a very honest and genuine mare and I would like to think she has a good each way chance in this.
