IT HAS has been officially the driest March at Pond House since we started recording the rainfall 25 years ago.

Just 8mm of rain has fallen here in the past 31 days, which fell on 22nd March (6mm) and 28th March (2mm). The previous lowest recorded amount of rainfall during March was back in 2012 when just over 22m of rain fell so we are quite some way below the previous lowest.

In March, 2024, we had 137mm of rain and up to the end of that month last year, the running total was 462.5mm. For the same period in 2025, we have had 243.5mm of rain. Despite the beginning of this year seeaming as if it was endless rain, we are now well and truly behind last year!

Aintree will of course do a good job of watering this week and there is some exciting racing to look forward to before the big one, the Grand National on Saturday.

Kingston Queen is likely to run in the mares listed bumper on Thursday and Jack Tudor will ride. She doesn’t officially turn five until next month and although I would have preferred a bit more rain, she is a likeable mare with a great attitude and she is one to look forward to novice hurdling in the autumn, whatever happens later this week.

Jurancon has an entry at Aintree on Friday but we have already made the decision he will not run. King Turgeon is still in the Grand National at present but will not make the cut for this year’s race. He will now go on his summer holidays with the aim to be back at Aintree over the Grand National fences in the autumn to try and win the Grand Sefton for a second time.

Our first runners of this week will be at Exeter on Wednesday where Kintaro and Castle Daragh run and will be both ridden by Ben Bromley. American Sniper has an entry at Plumpton on Thursday but is more likely to head to Chepstow on Saturday while we have a couple of entries at Ffos Las on Sunday as well.

Keep checking the Daily News on the website for the latest news on the stable runners. Harley’s Pride ran okay on stable debut in a bumper at Southwell last week but the ground was too quick for Royal Mer at Fontwell on Friday. It was a nice prize to go for but he found everything happening a bit too quickly for him and he could never really get involved.

Jaipaletemps ran a similar race to his previous ones since coming from France and we will have to try something different to try to get his head in front.

I shall be heading to Aintree on Thursday along with my son Jack. There are sales after racing with some nice types in the sale with more still to be added after the weekend pointing action in Ireland. If you are interested please get in touch, email [email protected] or ring 01884 840 715.

Vieux Lion Rouge will be paraded at Aintree on Grand National Day. The 16 year old who ran in five Grand Nationals won 13 of his 41 career starts and won just over £344,000 in prize money in his career.

Dave Pipe’s column as told to Richard Walsh.