I HAVE just returned from a nice few days away in Tenerife with Leanne, so it was lovely to get some sunshine and re-charge the batteries. It was back down to earth with a bang when we returned home on Sunday evening with temperatures a lot colder back here, although they tell me it is much milder than it was while we were away!
It worked out Taunton was the only jumps meeting to survive the weather last week and we had just the one runner, Saccary. He made his hurdling debut and jumped well enough and he will improve for the experience.
We did have a winner at Wadebridge point to point on Sunday. We took three horses down there and the day got off to a good start with Fighter Allen winning the novice riders conditions race with Rian Corcoran on board.
He finished runner up at the track on his British pointing debut in December and reversed the placings with the winner that day this time around. Both Fighter Allen and The King’s Writ were quite highly rated under rules and the pair pulled clear. It was a good performance from our ten year old under a well-judged ride from young Rian and he is back enjoying his racing again. We will be looking for hunter chases for him little later down the track as well as a return to rules action – he is for sale should anyone be interested in owning him!
I started former Hennessy winner, Celestial Gold’s career at Wadebridge and it’s unique, not everyone’s cup of tea but it is a great little track, and it is nice we are able to support the West Country point to points.
My son Jack and his friend Oscar went and have caught the racing and point to point bug! They enjoyed their day helping and leading up and especially collecting the prizes with the cup now being proudly on display in Jack’s bedroom!
The weather promises to be better this week and not so cold so fingers crossed we get a full programme of action but there is an element of doubt over Tuesday and Wednesday’s jumps fixtures going ahead with frost still in the ground.
We have two runners at Newbury on Wednesday, Jurancon (in case Plumpton is abandoned) and Lady Balko but the track must pass at 3pm inspection on Tuesday afternoon. There are no inspections planned at present at Hereford although their going description is described as frozen in places and monitoring so it will be no surprise if an inspection is called at some point. Activist in declared to run here.
On Thursday, we have runners at Wincanton and likely to include King Turgeon in the Somerset National. He is in great form at home and it will be nice to get him back on the track. He will need to improve again to win off a career high mark but it looks a good opportunity for him.
On Friday, we have entries at Windsor and Market Rasen and over the weekend, we have entries at Ascot, Haydock, Taunton, Fakenham and Windsor.
Remastered is entered in the re-scheduled Veterans chase at Market Rasen on Friday and is likely to take his chance but keep checking the Daily News on the website for all the latest news.
David Pipe column