- Tuesday, 24 January 2012 10:23
- Written by David Pipe
After speaking with the owners, we have decided not to run Grands Crus at Cheltenham on Saturday. We didn’t want to give him a hard race with March just around the corner. He may run at Newbury in a three mile novices’ chase on 11th February or could go straight to the Festival. A decision on which race he will take in at the Cheltenham Festival is still to be decided and will not be made until much nearer the time.
Exciting hurdler Dynaste runs in the Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham this Saturday.
- Monday, 16 January 2012 16:56
- Written by David Pipe
I was very pleased with the success of Kazlian (pictured above) at Leicester last Tuesday afternoon when easily landing the novices’ hurdle under a penalty. Tom Scu sent our four year old on at the penultimate hurdle and he won as he pleased from High On A Hill. The bare form of the race is difficult to assess – the runner-up, while useful on the flat had run poorly on his only previous start over timber, while second favourite Tuscan Gold was clearly below form. Even so, he was very impressive and his jumping has improved with each start – he is clearly on the upgrade and his next target will be governed by what the handicapper decides to do with him, although I would imagine that he will eventually be contesting one of the novices’ hurdles at the Cheltenham Festival in March.
- Monday, 09 January 2012 16:57
- Written by David Pipe
The stable enjoyed another productive week with four winners. Ashbrittle started the ball rolling at Lingfield on Thursday when getting the better of Charm School in the maiden hurdle. The pair had filled the minor placings at Ffos Las a fortnight earlier and ran almost to the pound again here. Ashbrittle prevailed by a length under a fine ride from Conor O’Farrell with the pair 21 lengths clear of the remainder.
- Wednesday, 04 January 2012 07:45
- Written by David Pipe
The saying goes “out with the old and in with the new” and we saw out 2011 in style with a winner at Warwick on New Year’s Eve before seeing in the New Year with another victory at Exeter on 1st January, and the winning habit is certainly one that we are hoping to keep for the remainder of the year and beyond!
- Thursday, 29 December 2011 08:47
- Written by David Pipe
Well, Christmas is all over for another year and I hope that you enjoyed the festive season. It has been a remarkable few days on the racing front culminating in incredible scenes at Kempton on Boxing Day for one of the most inspiring day’s racing that I can recall.
- Monday, 19 December 2011 16:43
- Written by David Pipe
It was another productive week for the yard with four more winners taking our seasonal tally to 50 – a nice milestone to reach before Christmas. Buddy Bolero started the ball rolling at Folkestone on Tuesday and he put up a dour staying performance to land the 2m6f novices’ hurdle. Stamina is clearly his long suit as the ground was very testing and the horses were finishing tired throughout the day – but he kept going well to score a ready fifteen length victory. Whatever he does now will be a bonus as he looks to be an embryonic staying chaser in the making.
- Tuesday, 13 December 2011 10:20
- Written by David Pipe
As I sit at my desk writing this week’s blog with only twelve days until Christmas, I take a glance at my computer that is currently displaying my web page and it is then that it dawns upon me…there are only 90 days until the start of the Cheltenham Festival! Where has the time gone?! There is so much to be done between now and then – it is at times like this that I wish there were 25 hours in a day!
- Tuesday, 06 December 2011 10:06
- Written by David Pipe
First of all, I couldn’t start this week without thanking everybody who has taken the time to contact us with their best wishes on Lough Derg’s retirement. The number of people who have contacted us via e-mail, Racing Post and social networking sites Twitter and Facebook has been absolutely overwhelming and just goes to show the depth of emotion that these seasoned veterans inspire among racegoers. Douglas is still with us in the short-term and he is as full of himself as always – he will remain here until we have found the right home for him to spend the rest of his days.
- Monday, 28 November 2011 19:53
- Written by David Pipe
Our ever popular staying hurdler Lough Derg (“Douglas”) has run his last race. Having run an encouraging race on his comeback at Exeter, his outing at Ascot last Saturday told us that it was time for retirement after an amazing career that spanned eight years, sixty-one races and twelve trademark gutsy victories.
Having spoken with owner William Frewen, Tom and Charlotte Scudamore, as well as Leanne who would ride him everyday at home, it was unanimously decided that the time was right for a happy and thoroughly well deserved end to his racing career.- Monday, 21 November 2011 21:39
- Written by David Pipe
Following on from the successes of Notus de la Tour and Wings of Icarus earlier last week, I was delighted that we could keep the momentum going with an across the card double on Saturday at Ascot and Haydock. Over at Ascot Hadden Frost produced a beautifully timed ride to score aboard I’msingingtheblues in the valuable 2m1f handicap chase. This was the horse’s first win since joining us and he certainly deserved to land a decent prize as he has been running creditably, reaching the frame in countless decent races from two to three miles without getting his head in front. Hopefully now that he has done it once, it won’t be so long before he can win again!
