- Monday, 18 May 2026 12:58
- Written by David Pipe
Little Chiefy & Jack Pipe Winners at Bangor
A big highlight in what was a relatively quiet week was my son Jack winning his first racecourse series pony race at Bangor on Saturday on his pony Little Chiefy. This is the first season Jack has been properly riding in pony races and having started at Cocklebarrow in January, he and his pony have progressed and learnt with every run. He has won two point to point pony races, at Charlton Horthorne and Flete Park from six starts and he was placed on the other occasions as well, but this was stepping up to a different level and I am a very proud dad. Jack learns from his mistakes and has taken something from each of his races.
- Monday, 11 May 2026 12:58
- Written by David Pipe
Affection - For Sale
All the winter horses are now turned out to grass for some much deserved R & R and a lot of staff are now on their summer holidays as well. We have a team of about 20 to race over the summer and as soon as we have a little rain we have some ready to run but it is a little quiet in the coming days. Steam cleaning, tidying and painting are the main jobs going on at the moment so Pond House is still a hive of activity.
- Monday, 04 May 2026 10:58
- Written by G Edwards
Jack & Little Chiefy Winning at Flete (Photo:APX)
The last week has absolutely flown by as it has been a busy time. The new season is underway and we very nearly made it a winning start to the new campaign in the opening race at Uttoxeter on Saturday with Saccary finishing a neck second under Jack Tudor. Our seven-year-old is yet to win over hurdles and has now finished second on his last three starts but I don’t think he has done anything wrong in defeat and he should be winning races over the summer. Grand Claremont made his British and stable debut and found the ground a little too lively. These French horses can take a race or two to acclimatize to the British style of racing and our eight-time winner will improve for this initial experience.
- Monday, 27 April 2026 12:55
- Written by David Pipe
Thanksforthehelp runs at Punchestown
The 2025-26 season came to its conclusion on Saturday and we get a few days break from jumps racing on this side of the Irish Sea before it all starts again on Saturday with meetings at Hexham and Uttoxeter. I do always think there should be a longer gap before we start again but I am not sure anything will be changing anytime soon!
- Monday, 20 April 2026 11:04
- Written by David Pipe
Way of Stars Intended Runner at Sandown
We are now entering the final week of the 2025-26 National Hunt season with the finale once again coming at Sandown on Saturday. Fear not, with a little break in jumps racing after the weekend, we do have Punchestown to look forward to next week! We already know the Champions elect, so no closely fought battles to come this week like last year but there is plenty of racing in the coming days before the curtain comes down. More reflections on the season next week.
- Monday, 13 April 2026 10:39
- Written by David Pipe
Parchment - Weekend Entry
It has been a fairly quiet week all-round here at Pond House though Jack and myself had a good trip to Aintree, met lots of people and bought a horse! Jack and I were up there on Thursday and Friday and there was some good racing and a great atmosphere. We are also delighted to have bought Max Potential from the sales that followed racing on Thursday evening. He is a nice four-year-old by Maxios who would have won his only start in an Irish point to point had he not fallen at the final fence last month and he has settled in well since arriving. We will do a bit or work with him now to learn about him before turning him away for the summer. He is a lovely big horse who still has a bit of growing to do and he will be one to look forward to in bumpers in the autumn.
- Monday, 06 April 2026 08:55
- Written by David Pipe
Easter Bonnet Competition Winners
In general, the horses continue to run well and it is a little frustrating not to have had a winner in recent days but with the continuing dry weather, several horses are now out of training. I always get worried at this time of year, courses do a great job of watering but it is just not the same as natural help from above and as the ground begins to tighten up I do not want to risk unnecessary problems.
