- Monday, 08 October 2012 20:40
- Written by David Pipe
It was a good weekend for the yard when we were repaid for the long journey up to Scotland with a winner at Kelso on Sunday. War Singer won the opening handicap hurdle with little fuss under Tom Scudamore who gave our five year old a canny ride by ignoring the frantic early pace. Our gelding had some very good form on the flat in France and has run some decent races for us on the level at some of the bigger tracks such as Newbury and Haydock. This was his first success over timber and while it was not the strongest of races, I hope that he can now build on this success and go on to take higher rank and record further victories over timber.
- Monday, 01 October 2012 15:39
- Written by David Pipe
Last week was a relatively quite one for the yard with only a couple of runners, one at Perth on Thursday and another at Market Rasen on Saturday. Unfortunately we did not experience the best of luck with either as The Tracey Shuffle fell at the second fence on his chasing debut after overjumping, while Qulinton twisted a shoe during the race and was never happy thereafter.
- Monday, 24 September 2012 15:16
- Written by David Pipe
Although I am not necessarily in agreement with the scheduling of the race calendar at this time of year and the enforced breaks from jump racing, it has afforded me the opportunity of a little holiday. Indeed, I have just returned from a week spent in the South West of France near Bergerac with Leanne and our two children. We enjoyed a nice, relaxing break and I am pleased to say that we managed to escape the rain that has obviously hit us on these shores.
- Monday, 17 September 2012 14:51
- Written by David Pipe
First of all I cannot start this week without wishing my mother a very happy birthday for today (Monday). A gentleman never divulges a woman’s age and the boss has informed me on more than one occasion that I am not yet too big to put across her knee, so I will keep “mum” on that one! She was treated to a fortnight’s holiday with my dad where they have been cruising around the islands in the Mediterranean. They returned back on Saturday, although after spending two weeks in a cabin with my father, I would imagine that she is well ready for another holiday!
- Tuesday, 11 September 2012 08:10
- Written by David Pipe
It Takes Time and Frank Hayes at the Western Counties Open Day on Sunday
Last week was a quiet one on the racing front with only one runner on the flat at Haydock on Friday and a brace of runners at Stratford on Saturday. I thought that War Singer performed creditably in a competitive 1m2f handicap at Haydock under Hayley Turner, sticking on well in the closing stages. Hayley said that the ground was plenty lively enough for him and he could now return to hurdling where he is more likely to get underfoot conditions to suit.
Over the sticks, His Excellency ran another sound race, finishing a close fourth in a quality handicap hurdle at Stratford. He looked the likeliest winner turning into the straight and although he drifted a little left in the closing stages, he was only beaten three lengths in total and looks capable of winning something similar in due course either over hurdles or fences.
- Monday, 03 September 2012 15:56
- Written by David Pipe
Enfant De Lune & Shoegazer
What a great day for the stable at Newton Abbot yesterday. Three winners including the feature races and some places was more than I could have hoped for. It was great that racing was able to go ahead after being in doubt for several days before. Sadly the first day of the two day summer festival had to be abandoned but it was great for the course that they were able to have some action on their biggest meeting of the year. There was a bumper crowd there to enjoy the eight race card and they were entertained by some good races. It was wonderful Newton Abbot were able to move their big chase that was due to be held on Saturday over to the Sunday which was great for owners, trainers and race goers. I ran four horses in the big handicap hurdle of the day and I honestly was not sure who was going to finish best of my quartet before the race! However I could not believe that Premier Dane was sent off such a big price and Ashbrittle quite so short although he obviously had his supporters. Tom Scu chose to ride Decoy and he was a little disappointing as was previous race winner Raslan but the ground was probably a little to soft for him. I was a little worried how Premier Dane would act on the ground but my worries proved unfounded as he seemed to absolutely love it! AP said he had an armchair ride!
- Tuesday, 28 August 2012 14:55
- Written by David Pipe
We had a nice winner last week when Katchmore (pictured above) produced something of a surprise to land a tight handicap hurdle over 2m4f at Ffos Las under Tom Scudamore on Thursday. It was his first conclusive try at the trip and they went a good pace given there were only five runners. Ffos Las is a wide open, galloping track yet he saw the race out well to record a personal best performance. This now opens up a whole host of other races that he could go for before eventually making the switch to fences. Katchmore has plenty of size and scope about him and if he jumps fences like his hurdles, he will make a really exciting recruit to the larger obstacles when the time comes.
- Monday, 20 August 2012 15:52
- Written by David Pipe
It was our annual Owners’ Day at the yard on Sunday afternoon and we had a very good turnout with well in excess of 150 people in attendance. Our guests had the opportunity to tour the yard and meet the horses and sit down for a magnificent roast beef dinner in our marquee (as well as have a tipple or two!). I would like to thank all of the staff who gave up their time to help out and ensure that the day went without a hitch, as well as Sally from local catering firm Relish for the wonderful meal.
Incredibly after all of the moaning I have been doing lately about the amount of rain we have had, we were treated to a lovely sunny day (I know, a sunny day in the summer - barely believable!) and the event really couldn’t have gone any better.
I thought that both of our runners in Saturday’s Summer Champion Hurdle at Perth ran creditable races. Hunterview (fourth) and His Excellency (fifth) both picked up prize money in this fiercely competitive handicap and were only beaten around five lengths, giving hope that they should be upto winning again in the near future.
We enjoyed a nice winner at Stratford this afternoon (Monday) when Premier Dane (pictured right) won over fences to make it two wins from two starts since joining the yard. He was taking advantage of a mark only 2lbs higher than for his initial success over hurdles although he probably didn’t have much more in hand. He is entered again in a couple of races at Ffos Las on Thursday or Friday and could turn out again, although I am not sure he will be particularly well-treated under a penalty for today’s success.
The next runner from the yard will be Ashbrittle, who takes in the staying handicap on the flat at York on Wednesday. Graham Lee will take the ride and I have been meaning to give him the leg-up on one for some time since switching codes to the level. Graham has had a great time of things since taking out his flat licence, notching 45 successes so far this year – he has lost none of his strength despite the fact that he can do 8st8lbs. Ashbrittle will be having his first start since finishing eighth in the Ascot Stakes where he met quite a bit of trouble in running – Paul Hanagan who was on board that day thought that the interference probably cost him a place, so I will be hoping for better luck in running on Wednesday.
Talking of York on Wednesday, I am sure that all eyes will be on Frankel as he makes the eagerly anticipated step up to ten furlongs in the Juddmonte International on Wednesday. It looks like being a thorough test with St Nicholas Abbey (proven over twelve furlongs) and two Ballydoyle pacemakers in the field, as well as Frankel’s three parts brother Bullet Train. Personally I can’t see Frankel doing anything other than improve for the extra couple of furlongs and I would love to see a performance that sees him ranked as the greatest performer since the International Classification was first published.
It looks like being something of a bumper day on Wednesday as we will certainly have a few runners at the evening meeting at Newton Abbot. Personally, I love the atmosphere at the Devon track and there is bound to be a good turnout with all of the holidaymakers present, so much as I would love to see Frankel again, I think I will be heading off to my local track.
We will be taking it easy over the weekend as we have no entries at the sole jumps meeting at Cartmel on Saturday where the ground is already soft, while there are no National Hunt meetings at all on Sunday. I say “easy”, but there is still plenty of work to be done – the horses continue to arrive back and the yard is filling up quickly despite there being plenty more to arrive back yet! I am certainly not complaining though, I would sooner be busy than idle any day of the week.
As always, you can keep right up to date with all the latest news from the stable by visiting Chester’s Daily Chat…
- Monday, 13 August 2012 16:01
- Written by David Pipe
The Olympics are over for another four years and while some people will be breathing a sigh of relief, I for one will miss them. Team GB had the most amazing time, roared on by the home crowd to finish third in the medal table with an amazing 29 gold medals. The likes of Jessica Ennis, Mo Farah and Sir Chris Hoy were inspirational, but I must also make special reference to the achievements of the equestrian stars, notably Tina Cook and Nick Skelton both of whom have racing connections.
- Monday, 06 August 2012 15:44
- Written by David Pipe
We have now embarked on our summer sabbatical as there is no National Hunt racing until Thursday 16th August. At this time of year the jumps program gets very disjointed as there is another blank week in September. Indeed, we used to have a month off before the commencement of the new season and a return to that sort of schedule would be beneficial to all involved, giving trainers and jockeys a decent break to recharge the batteries, as well as the horses to get a good pick of summer grass.
