- Monday, 23 June 2014 09:15
- Written by David Pipe
I spent the last seven days in Bergerac in the west of France near Bordeaux with Leanne, her parents and the children and while we had a lovely time, there is only so much overindulging on fine wine and food I can manage before I need to get back to the grind. I was never too far away from the action though with required bedtime reading being the upcoming Derby and Arqana sales catalogues.
- Monday, 16 June 2014 15:11
- Written by David Pipe
Although quieter on the racing front with most of the horses now enjoying their summer breaks, the good form of the stable was maintained with the success of Lady Of Longstone (pictured above) at Worcester on Tuesday. Making her racecourse debut in the bumper, our daughter of Beneficial ground out a workmanlike victory under a good ride from Tom Scudamore. She would ideally have been suited by a stronger gallop so Scu sensibly produced her to challenge some way out and she stayed on gamely to draw away in the closing stages.
- Monday, 09 June 2014 14:51
- Written by David Pipe
I was very pleased to keep the good early season momentum going with a couple of winners from our four runners over the sticks last week. Mount Haven was the impressive winner of his bumper at Fontwell on Wednesday, while Guess Again (pictured above) took our seasonal total to sixteen when following up Problema Tic’s success of twelve months ago in the Perth Gold Cup on Sunday.
- Monday, 02 June 2014 15:27
- Written by David Pipe
Last week was certainly a quiet one with only five runners and while we didn’t post any victories during that period, at least the horses continued to run well with four places from our representatives. The week ahead isn’t looking too demanding either – the stable has no runners today, while there are no jumps meetings taking place in the UK tomorrow. Indeed, the next runners from Pond House will not be until at least Wednesday at Fontwell.
- Monday, 26 May 2014 17:47
- Written by David Pipe
Although a quiet week on the racing front, we still managed to secure three winners from our seven runners to take our seasonal tally to fourteen, and thus keep the momentum going with our great start to the new term. I was particularly pleased to see classy staying hurdler Top Wood (pictured above by kind permission of Matthew Wilkinson) make a seamless transition to the larger obstacles at Towcester on Monday – he enjoyed a relatively light campaign last season so will be kept on the go during the summer months and he is definitely one to keep on the right side of. With most of his stable mates now out to grass for their holidays, we will be left with a team of around 15-20 horses to run.
- Monday, 19 May 2014 16:04
- Written by David Pipe
I am saddened to bring you news that a grand old favourite of Pond House stables, Blowing Wind (pictured above by Bernard Parkin) was put to sleep peacefully this moring at the age of 21. Twice a winner at the Cheltenham Festival and twice placed in the Grand National, he was a wonderful horse to have in the yard and will be greatly missed.
- Monday, 12 May 2014 15:52
- Written by David Pipe
The stable has enjoyed a good start to the new season with no fewer than six winners from eighteen runners at a strike rate of 33%, including a valuable double at Haydock’s Swinton meeting on Saturday. We had five of those winners last week alone and while I am thrilled with the way the horses are running, the winners were tinged with sadness following the terribly sad news of Brian Kilpatrick’s sudden passing.
- Tuesday, 06 May 2014 07:10
- Written by David Pipe
I arrived home from my second stint at Punchestown late on Saturday night and in need of a rest! If there is one thing the Irish know about more than their racing, it is how to entertain. As always, we were very well received by the good people at Punchestown racecourse, as well as the locals and I would like to thank them all for the hospitality afforded to us and look forward to returning next year. Although we did not register any successes at the meeting, we reached the frame a number of times and the horses in general ran extremely well.
- Monday, 28 April 2014 10:15
- Written by David Pipe
Ballynagour runs at Punchestown
The 2013-14 National Hunt season has drawn to a close, finishing on Saturday with a cracking days action at Sandown. Unfortunately No Secrets was balloted out of the feature Bet365 chase but I went along to join in the proceedings and Dynaste took part in the champions parade and it was a fitting end to a great season. I just want to take a moment to say a special congratulations to all the champions, Paul Nicholls on regaining his trainers title, to the champ AP on winning his 19th jockeys title (hard to sum up in words this amazing man!), to JP McManus who invests so much into our sport and was crowned leading owner and to Gavin Sheehan for being champion conditional. Below I have had a little look back on how things have gone for Pond House but for now everyone is back to zero and we have a few days grace before the action gets underway again in Britain.
- Monday, 21 April 2014 11:35
- Written by David Pipe
No Secrets - Will run at Sandown on Saturday
Well I hope that everyone has enjoyed their Easter weekend? I know my kids certainly did and enjoyed an Easter egg hunt around Pond House and we certainly have quite a lot of chocolate in our house right now!
Unfortunately we did not get a winner in the last few days but the horses have been running well and just hitting the post so to speak! At Haydock on Saturday Shotavodka ran really well in a competitive handicap chase to finish second. This was his first try at three miles and he seemed to get the trip well and this now opens up more opportunities for him in the future. He is not over big in size but he jumped really well and we were delighted with his run. Heath Hunter also ran a great race to finish second in the handicap hurdle. He probably just got his nose in front on the run in but went down fighting to the Jonjo O’Neill trained Carlton Jack. The ground was lively enough for our seven year old and he does appreciate a bit more cut in the ground but it was still a fine run. He holds a few entries this week but whether he runs or not will depend on ground conditions.
