- Monday, 06 August 2018 10:57
- Written by David Pipe
Today marks the final day before National Hunt racing’s eight day summer holiday and we head into the sabbatical with a couple of runners at Newton Abbot this afternoon. Even though there were no runners from the stable last week, we were still busy getting the remaining horses in from their summer holidays, purchasing horses and continuing with further yard maintenance ahead of the core season. Although this is considered to be the ‘quiet time’ of a National Hunt stable’s year, the reality is in fact very different.
- Monday, 30 July 2018 15:43
- Written by David Pipe
With the sun continuing to beat down until the end of last week, it has meant that the ground has remained unsuitably fast for some of our intended runners. As such, there were only two runners from Pond House but they both performed creditably with old favourite Dell’ Arca producing one of his very best efforts to land a competitive handicap hurdle at Uttoxeter on Sunday.
- Monday, 23 July 2018 15:47
- Written by David Pipe
The horses continue to run well without quite getting their heads in front which is certainly frustrating. However, exasperating as it is, at least they are in decent form – it would be considerably worse if the horses were underperforming. With a dearth of jumps fixtures we only had four runners over the sticks last week with Timeforben narrowly denied at Uttoxeter, Chato a solid third at Newton Abbot, while Kalifourchon was still in with a shout when parting company with his rider.
- Monday, 16 July 2018 14:15
- Written by David Pipe
With the sun continuing to beat down, it is perhaps a good job that the jumps programme is a little truncated at present. Having said that, with advances in technology and watering techniques the course officials have on the whole been doing an excellent job of providing a good, safe and consistent surface for these summer jumps fixtures to be held on. Even so, we only had a couple of runners over the sticks last week and it is looking like a similar story for the week ahead.
- Monday, 09 July 2018 14:08
- Written by David Pipe
Much as anticipated with only a handful of fixtures last week, it was a quiet one for the stable on the runners front. Indeed, we only had four runners under rules, while Iniciar and Clare Wyatt were our much publicised representatives in the charity race at Newton Abbot on Friday. Jumps fixtures for the week ahead are once again looking a little thin on the ground so we may have a rare flat runner or two later in the week.
- Monday, 02 July 2018 15:02
- Written by David Pipe
Today marks the beginning of Racing Staff Week, an initiative started by that fabulous charitable organisation, Racing Welfare. It was created to highlight the important work done by the people at the grassroots of the sport and to thank them for their tireless hard work and unending dedication to their charges. Without these people, the sport that we all love would cease to exist so we owe them a great debt of thanks. A week barely seems enough to express our gratitude, but it is a good start!
- Monday, 25 June 2018 15:17
- Written by David Pipe
What a thrilling week of racing from Royal Ascot. I very much enjoyed my annual pilgrimage up there on Tuesday and felt that our runner Percy Street peformed creditably in the Ascot Stakes. Indeed, I thought that he ran far better than his finishing position would suggest. Meanwhile, our runners over the sticks also performed well on the whole and I was delighted to round the week off with a winner at Worcester on Sunday.
- Monday, 18 June 2018 14:51
- Written by David Pipe
Time for the Top Hat again!
As I write this week’s blog we are on the eve of the biggest five days of the summer. Indeed, for many racing fans, the five days of spectacular flat action at Royal Ascot are the highlight of the whole flat season. I have been fortunate to have trained a Royal Ascot winner and it is an experience unlike any other. I will be suited and booted in my top hat and tails and flying up again tomorrow (Tuesday) morning ahead of our runner in the Ascot Stakes.
- Monday, 11 June 2018 16:04
- Written by David Pipe
Last week was a quiet one for the stable with just three runners, but things are already looking busier for the week ahead with three runners today and plenty of entries for the remainder. Indeed, the pressure doesn’t get much more intense than at Worcester on Monday when my partner Leanne makes debut as an owner with recent recruit Ardmillan.
- Monday, 04 June 2018 15:57
- Written by David Pipe
Although the summer season is traditionally a quieter time for us, there is still plenty to keep us occupied and as you will no doubt be aware, I was at Doncaster Sales the week before last and was pleased with my new additions to the yard. Furthermore, with each of them now having an owner, I was able to further bolster the numbers at Pond House with a consignment of three horses secured privately as well as another three exciting types from last week’s Tattersalls Ireland Cheltenham Sales. Add to that a couple of winners on the racing front and it has certainly been a productive time for the stable.
