THE PAST week has had an international flavour, with me on a family holiday in the Algarve and having a runner in France.  It was a good week for us to go away with not much jumps racing and most of our runners came on the flat and abroad!  

However, it was good to end the week as it started, with a winner!  It was fantastic to get another win from Hammer Dan at Stratford over hurdles on Sunday, following his win at Newton Abbot on his previous start.  Jack gave him a lovely waiting ride and produced him to lead at the last.  

Rebel Angel did not get the best ride at Chepstow and although disappointing I think you can put a line though this and she is definitely better than what she showed here.  She has entries back at Chepstow and Epsom during this week and she is likely to be out again quickly.

On Saturday, Oceanline ran another solid race to be fifth in a hot looking contest at Ascot.  Hollie Doyle gave him a nice ride, following a strong pace and at one point he looked like he may get swallowed up by the pack but he kept galloping all the way to the line and finished fifth, not beaten that far.  

This race was over 1m6f which was slightly shorter than ideal for Oceanline but it was a good run.  We have our eye on the 2m4f staying handicap at Glorious Goodwood which could suit him down to the ground.

I also had my first ever runner at Dieppe on Saturday, with Heure De Gloire travelling over to France and running with great credit in a mares hurdle to be third.  

We had several entries at Uttoxeter on Wednesday and Worcester on Thursday over jumps, while Rebel Angel is entered on the flat and Myristica has a flat entry at Newbury on Friday.  

Looking ahead to the weekend it is the big summer jumps races at Market Rasen on Saturday and Manuelito and Nibras Gold have entries in the feature hurdle race while Steppenwolf could line up in the Summer Plate chase.  Steppenwolf was impressive on stable debut but was not suited by the track or ground at Bangor last time.  

There is also racing a bit closer to home at Newton Abbot on Sunday where Final Entry could make his hurdling debut, so keep checking the Daily News on the website for all the latest information.

It does not seem like five minutes ago that we were turning horses out to grass and now it is time for the majority of them to be coming in!  It is a gradual process over the coming weeks that horses start to come in from the fields and into stables.  

I could not write this week without mentioning the horrific events that happened to one of racing’s own, John Hunt, last week.  The majority of you will know that sadly John’s wife Carol and two of his daughters, Lucy and Hannah were brutally murdered in their own home. 

I cannot imagine how he and his other daughter Amy are feeling right now but my thoughts and prayers are with them and the rest of their family.  John has been to Pond House a couple of times and I can only echo what many have said about what a nice man and wonderful family man he is and how good at his job of commentating on racing and the other sports he does.   Words are not enough but racing is a great community and all our love and support is with them.

DAVE PIPE