Frosty Thursday

It's a frosty start at Pond House and the festive period is all over for another year. After a busy day of racing coming from all over the place yesterday, there are just two jumps cards which come from Ayr and Huntingdon. The all-weather action comes from Newcastle and there is no racing in Ireland today. No runners for the stable today.

Yesterday we were at Exeter after they passed their morning inspection with four runners. Lock Out didn't look to be enjoying the ground all that much, it did look like hard work for a lot of them yesterday, so he will appreciate a better surface next time. Chauffeur Driven ran a much more promising race this time and stayed on galloping all the way to the line, he will hopefully build on this going forward.

Missy Mole didn't quite look to get into much of a rhythm either like she usually can and I think she will also appreciate a better surface. Toronet was making his debut for Pond House and he travelled and jumped well throughout but just couldn't quite go with the rest in the closing stages, he does have an option of going back over hurdles.

Yesterday at Southwell, Moon Rocket ensured that Kim Bailey and Mat Nicholls enjoyed their first success as joint license holders when winning the Novice Hurdle nicely under Tom Bellamy. The win came even more so special as Southwell is the place that Mat fell in love with racing many years ago! 

Nicky Henderson's brilliant festive period continued as Lucky Place dug deep to win the Relkeel Hurdle at Cheltenham. He looks to have plenty of stamina and I think the Seven Barrows team are leaning towards the Stayers' Hurdle next. 

How does an octopus go into battle?

Well-armed!

Have a great Thursday!