- Monday, 09 May 2016 15:53
- Written by David Pipe
Purple 'N Gold - 1000th Winner
With the old season behind us you would think that it was time for a break, but far from it…despite the 2016/17 National Hunt season being only a few days old, we are as busy now as at most times during the season. The list of tasks is a little different of course, as well as the business of training the horses for the ‘off-season’ fixtures; we are preparing the paddocks to turn many of them out for their summer breaks, while of course trawling the catalogues in search for new talent to strengthen the team yet further. Winter or summer, there is certainly no let-up in the pace around Pond House!
- Monday, 02 May 2016 09:26
- Written by David Pipe
Katkeau - First Winner of the Season
After a few days break the new season has started with a bang and fixtures are coming thick and fast over the coming days. It was great to get on the board with the first winner of the season courtesy of Katkeau at Uttoxeter on Saturday. Having run well in the Midlands National on his last run before seeming to not quite staying the trip I was confident he would bounce back to form and he did under a great ride from Tom Scu. A mistake 3 out cost him valuable lengths but he battled all the way to the line to narrowly prevail. Plans on what he does next are undecided but France is an option after he was placed over hurdles there last summer while I wouldn't rule out him taking on the Summer National at Uttoxeter. All will depend on ground conditions as he does prefer a bit of give underfoot.
- Monday, 25 April 2016 15:26
- Written by David Pipe
The 2015/16 season has drawn to a close and the team at Pond House posted a respectable eighty winners for the campaign and netted almost £1.2 million in prize money. There is no time for resting on your laurels however as the 2016/17 season follows hot on the heels of the old one with the new campaign beginning on Wednesday. The scores are all set back to zero and it is time to put in the hard graft and lay the foundations for the coming season. With that in mind I have been busy at the sales of late and have a few promising new faces among the equine ranks at the stable.
- Monday, 18 April 2016 15:56
- Written by David Pipe
The success of Impulsive American at Ayr on Saturday was the 79th success of the season for the Pond House team with just a week remaining of the current term. It looks like being a busy final week with plenty of entries culminating in Bet365 day at Sandown on Saturday – a race in which we have three entries. To find out more about those, read on…
- Monday, 11 April 2016 15:35
- Written by David Pipe
What a fantastic Grand National meeting once again and I am pleased to see that the later off-time to the big race resulted in increased viewing figures. With an exciting finish to the National, hopefully it will have captured the imaginations of some of the younger generations and they will be the race-goers of tomorrow. I am pleased to report that Ballynagour, Vieux Lion Rouge and Soll have all returned safe and sound and none the worse for their exertions as you can see from the photograph above.
- Monday, 04 April 2016 15:31
- Written by David Pipe
The excitement is mounting as we have arrived at Grand National week at Aintree and it promises to be a busy time for the Pond House team. I am pleased to report that the stable continues in good form and another four successes last week took our seasonal tally onto 78, meanwhile I also have a positive bulletin on stable jockey Tom Scudamore and further news on plans for last season’s brilliant Champion Bumper winner Moon Racer. To find out more, read on…
- Monday, 28 March 2016 11:57
- Written by David Pipe
Last week was another good one for the stable with four winners bringing our seasonal total to 74. The horses really are in excellent form at present and it is amazing the difference a bit of sunshine and better ground can make to their performance. It looks like being a quiet start to the week with (unusually) no runners on this Bank Holiday Monday, although I will be making up for it later in the week!
