- Monday, 02 December 2024 16:03
- Written by David Pipe
Lady Balko Winner at Plumpton
The horses continue in good form and it was fantastic to start the new week with a winner at Plumpton on Monday with plenty of other good efforts from the team as well. Lady Balko improved on her seasonal comeback run and enjoyed making all the running under Jack Tudor on just her second start over the larger obstacles. She jumped very well with just a couple of novicey mistakes on the way round and had all her rivals in trouble before the second last fence. It was a good performance off a mark of 113 and Jack thought she will be even better returned to a stiffer track. She is a lovely mare with a great attitude and there is more to come from her this season.
- Monday, 25 November 2024 16:54
- Written by David Pipe
Micronormous Winner at Fakenham
It feels like it has been a long week since last writing with plenty going on and lots of challenges brought on by the weather along the way! Our 30th winner of the season was Micronormous at Fakenham. She won on chasing debut under Jack Tudor and it was great to get her off to a winning start over the larger obstacles. She is aptly named, as she is not very big but she has won an Irish point to point and had schooled well at home and it was just nice for me to see her do it on the track. She missed a whole year off through injury before returning in the summer and it is great to be able to reward her group of owner’s patience. This race was a qualifier for a valuable mare’s final back at the track in January and this is now her main target. She needs to finish in the first four in another chase to complete the qualifying criteria, but she has come out of the race well and we will look for another race for her shortly where the ground is not too soft.
- Monday, 18 November 2024 16:52
- Written by David Pipe
Vision De Maine Winne at Lingfield
With weather conditions on the dry side last week, we did not have that many runners last but I was delighted to get another win on the board with Vision De Maine winning for the second time this season, this time at Lingfield and making it two from two over fences. He made one bad jumping error mid-race with which we all had our heart in our mouth for a second but he jumped perfectly after this and he drew away from his nearest pursuers after the last. He is a relentless galloper and the further he goes the better he goes. We will see what the handicapper does to his rating on Tuesday morning but I do not think they can be too harsh and there is plenty more to come.
- Monday, 11 November 2024 16:25
- Written by David Pipe
King Turgeon Winner of the Grand Sefton
(Photo Courtesy of Racing Post)
Best made plans do not always work out, especially when horses are involved but there is a great sense of both relief and pride when they do! The Grand Sefton chase at Aintree over the Grand National fences was an ‘early closing entry’ race and I was keen to enter King Turgeon back in October. King Turgeon has always been an electric jumper of fences and while I think his owners, Somerset Racing, thought I was, a little mad for suggesting the race initially they were good sports and went along with the idea. At that point in time, King Turgeon was yet to run this season and was last in action back in the spring where he was taken out mid race, rather unluckily, by a loose horse at Chepstow.
- Monday, 04 November 2024 16:00
- Written by David Pipe
Chemical Warfare Winner at Newcastle
It has been a good week for the yard with another three winners on the board and what was particularly nice was the manner in which these victories were achieved. King Turgeon, Chemical Warfare and Walkadina were there winners throughout the week and have now taken us to 24 for the season so far.
- Monday, 28 October 2024 10:56
- Written by David Pipe
Cyfor Malta
Cyfor Malta passed away peacefully on Sunday 27th October 2024 at the grand old age of 31. He spent his retirement close to the yard with former head lad Dennis Dummet (who sadly passed away this year) and his partner Norma who loved and adored him. He lived for several years with Miinnehoma, It Takes Time and in recent years, his new best friend was Dynaste. Dad and I visited him not that long ago and he still looked magnificent but age just caught up with him quite recently.
- Monday, 21 October 2024 14:16
- Written by David Pipe
We had our 20th winner of the season at Uttoxeter on Friday courtesy of Vision De Maine getting off the mark under rules on chasing debut under Jack Tudor. Our five-year-old son of Buck’s Boom is a lovely big old-fashioned chasing type and after making a pleasing debut last season in a bumper at Sedgefield behind a useful horse, things did not go to plan afterwards over hurdles. A summer at grass has done him the world of good and having schooled very well at home we were quite hopeful of a big run and being able to capitalise on his handicap mark. Everything went very smoothly during the race as he travelled kindly, jumped very neatly and kept on galloping strongly. He has come out of that race well and while we did have him entered again quickly at Plumpton, we decided not to run him with a penalty. We will see what the handicapper does to him this week but I hope there is plenty of progress to come from him.
