- Monday, 30 March 2026 15:08
- Written by David Pipe
Chemical Warfare
Three second places came from our very few runners in the past seven days, two under rules and one in the pointing field. Best Night backed up her win at Huntingdon on her penultimate start with a solid second at Hereford. In making the running she was a little keener throughout than we would have liked but equally she looked like she bumped into one making its handicap debut. She is a tough and genuine little mare that likes better ground and so will enjoy it even more as the ground continues to dry in the coming weeks.
- Monday, 23 March 2026 15:27
- Written by David Pipe
Indulto Rouge & James Shaw on the Gallops
It was relatively quiet for the stable on the runners front last week and October Hill was best of those who ran, finishing second in the mares maiden hurdle at Ludlow has Thursday. We dropped her back in trip after not appearing to stay three miles on her penultimate run and it nearly worked as she fended off all her rivals bar one! In truth, she probably wants 2m4f round a track like Ludlow but it was still a good effort. She is a tough and consistent mare and I am sure we can find her a winning opportunity next time. She prefers better ground and so will be out again soon while the weather stays dry. There are still shares available in her and if you want to get involved in a small friendly syndicate that doesn’t break the bank please do get in touch! She has been placed on four of her five starts for us picking up over £6,000 in prize money along the way and so is likely to continue to pay her way and she will jump a fence one day as well.
- Monday, 16 March 2026 15:59
- Written by G Edwards
Vieux Lion Rouge has Sadly Passed Away
I am not sure quite where the last seven days have gone but the Cheltenham Festival has been and gone in the blink of an eye! Our runners, Kingston Queen and Gericault Roque ran with credit but the ground was not soft enough for the mare, it was not far enough on that ground. Both have returned home safe and well which is the main thing and will run again when the ground is more to their liking. We have made an entry for Kingston Queen in Ireland, at Fairyhouse’s Easter meeting in a valuable mare’s novice’s hurdle over 2m4f so we will be keeping an eye on the weather and might head there should things be in our favour closer to the time.
- Monday, 09 March 2026 16:35
- Written by David Pipe
Royal Mer Recent Winner Wincanton
I am of course writing on the eve of the 2026 Cheltenham Festival and we have an exciting week of racing ahead. I shall be at Cheltenham every day and we are looking forward to welcoming lots of guests to our hospitality marquee each day. Matt Chapman will be running through the cards with me with the tips each day and we will try to find as many winners as we can!
- Monday, 02 March 2026 16:38
- Written by G Edwards
Kingston Queen Intended Cheltenham Runner
It was a very quiet on the runner’s front for the team last week and we ended up with just the two runners, one under each code. Final Entry ran okay without ever getting properly involved in the finish at Southwell on the all-weather on his comeback from a long absence while Activist got a bit stuck in the tacky conditions at Newbury on Friday.
- Monday, 23 February 2026 11:03
- Written by David Pipe
Windbeneathmywings
This week starts similarly to last week with very few runners on the track but there is plenty of work going on behind the scenes, it is just how thing seem to have been panning out of late. Lots of the horses have run well in recent days but a winner has just evaded us. From our ten runners in the last week we have managed a second, five third placings and a fourth so the horses have been running well but just hitting the cross bar!
- Monday, 16 February 2026 11:55
- Written by David Pipe
Royal Mer Winner at Wincanton
It was another good Saturday for the team with a double at Wincanton thanks to Eton Mes and Royal Mer. It was also a first professional double for our young conditional jockey Rian Corcoran who his riding well and full of confidence at the moment.
- Monday, 09 February 2026 16:08
- Written by David Pipe
Kingston Queen Winner at Warwick
It was a good week for the yard with three winners on the board from six runners at a 50% strike rate but as usual, things did not all go smoothly! A typical racing week! Our first runners of last week did not come until Thursday at Doncaster and we travelled up there in search of a bit better ground but it basically rained all day and so that went out of the window! October Hill did not enjoy conditions by the time it came to her race at the end of the day but she ran okay to be fourth, she will be better returned to a sounder surface.
- Monday, 02 February 2026 14:13
- Written by David Pipe
Gold in the Rivers Winner at Market Rasen
Leanne and I had three nights away in Tenerife last week and it was lovely to get away for some sunshine and we missed the worst of the rain back here at Pond House. The team did a great job of keeping things going in difficult conditions as it is not easy when you keep getting soaking wet through every day but they are all still here and still smiling on my return!
- Monday, 26 January 2026 11:12
- Written by David Pipe
River Run Free Winner at Leicester
I start this week by again talking about the weather! We have had 176mm of rain so far in January here at Pond House and with a wet week ahead forecast there looks set to be disruption to the racing programme in the coming days. Indeed, Exeter on Wednesday has already been abandoned, there is an inspection at Leicester ahead of their meeting on Wednesday and I imagine a few more clerks of the courses will also be calling inspections later in the week. The most rain we have ever recorded in January on our records is 181mm and that was back in 2014, I imagine we will be setting a new record this year, maybe even by this time tomorrow with a few more days left in January as well!
