Entries & Recent Form
- Sunday, 27 December 2020 00:00
- Written by James C Smith
There are (hopefully!) four meetings taking place this afternoon with jumps action from Chepstow, Kempton and Wetherby as well as an all-weather flat fixture from Wolverhampton. Chepstow needs to survive an early morning inspection as they have had loads of rain throughout the week. Indeed, they had 65mm on Wednesday night alone and even if the meeting gets the go ahead, it is going to be extremely attritional. David has three runners today; Ramses de Teillee and Vieux Lion Rouge in the Welsh National at Chepstow and Remastered at Wetherby.
- Saturday, 26 December 2020 08:43
- Written by James C Smith
There are four meetings taking place this afternoon with jumps cards from Wetherby, Wincanton and Kempton, whilst there is an all-weather flat fixture from Wolverhampton. That is a bit of a quiet one by Boxing Day standards as I recall times when there used to be fixtures up and down the country. David has one runner today as Duc de Beauchene (pictured above) contests the Pertemps handicap hurdle qualifier at Wincanton at 2.45pm. He ran a nice race on his seasonal debut last month, finishing runner-up at Uttoxeter behind a horse that was sent off favourite for a Grade 2 contest next time. He is 2lbs higher this afternoon but should give a good account of himself and has each-way claims under David Noonan in an open-looking contest.
- Friday, 25 December 2020 00:00
- Written by James C Smith
Merry Christmas everybody! This year has certainly been a challenging one but we hope that you can enjoy a safe and happy day. Things carry on very much as usual around the yard. The horses still need to be fed and exercised and there will be several members of staff on hand to ensure that their needs are met. Our grateful thanks go to all of the team for their continued dedication to the horses in their charge.
- Thursday, 24 December 2020 08:12
- Written by James C Smith
It is Christmas Eve and even though it has only been a day without racing, I am missing it already! Fortunately there are only two more sleeps until Boxing Day and some cracking action which includes the King George VI Chase from Kempton. Of course, the big news yesterday came with the government announcements that most parts of the country are moving into higher tiers and that the majority of racecourses will have to operate behind closed doors, whilst many bookmaking shops will have to shut. Let's hope that the latest measures have the desired effect and we are able to return to some sort of normality in 2021.
- Wednesday, 23 December 2020 08:22
- Written by James C Smith
Well, that's it for the racing until Boxing Day now. The jock's get a couple of days off, although I don't suppose too many of them will be indulging in too many festive treats as they will need to be back on top form for a big weekend of racing with the King George meeting at Kempton on Saturday and the Welsh National at Chepstow on Sunday. It was announced yesterday that any Irish raiders who were intended runners will not be able to travel across following a new set of travel restrictions. How long these will be in place for is anybody's guess but some of the Christmas racing will be less competitive as a consequence.
- Tuesday, 22 December 2020 08:18
- Written by James C Smith
There are three meetings taking place this afternoon with jumps cards from Huntingdon and Sedgefield and an all-weather flat fixture from Lingfield. It is very much the calm before the Christmas storm as with all due respect to today's fixtures, they aren't exactly inspiring. There are no runners from the Pond House team today, although David Noonan makes the long journey to Huntingdon today for one ride aboard a 66/1 shot. That is a seven hour round trip for him, so let's hope that it can outrun his odds, otherwise it is going to be a pretty arduous drive home.
- Monday, 21 December 2020 08:17
- Written by James C Smith
Unfortunately it was a disappointing weekend for the stable with Main Fact not giving his true running in the Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot on Saturday. Our seven year old entered his first try in Grade 1 company on a nine race winning streak but after travelling well for much of the way, he was unable to go with the leaders when the tempo increased off the home bend. It was always going to be a tough ask, but he is certainly capable of better than he produced here. The main thing is that he is home safe and sound and in one piece and there will be plenty more big days for him.
