SKIN FULL and Chauffeur Driven were our best runners last week and both horses filled the runner up spots carrying the colours of owner Sarah Ling.

We stepped Skin Full up in distance, to three miles for the first time under rules and he put in his best performance to date. He had finished second in an Irish point to point so we knew he would stay and he appreciated the better going and unfortunately, for us, he just lost out in a prolonged battle with the eventual winner.

Chauffeur Driven responded well to a first time visor and ran his best race yet in testing condition to be second at Exeter. It was jockey Ben Bromley’s first ride for me, he rode him well, and the five pounds off his back that he claims was certainly a help. Reliability has not been this horse’s forte to date but it was a much more encouraging run. The ability is there and hopefully his winning turn is not far away.

Lady Balko returned to form to be fourth in the Listed mares chase at Exeter and Deeper Blue made a pleasing stable debut in the competitive Ladbrokes handicap chase at Kempton on Saturday. Jaipaletemps improved on his stable debut to be third at Hereford on Sunday, appreciating the return to the larger obstacles.

River Run Free returns to Leicester on Tuesday, where he won over course and distance last time. The ground will be more testing this time but I do not think that will be too much of a problem.

Saccary is our only runner at Wincanton on Wednesday and he runs in the maiden hurdle. Conditions will once again be very testing and he needs to build on what he has done over hurdles so far to figure.

Later in the week, we have entries at Taunton and Ludlow on Thursday and Purple Owl could make his stable debut in the bumper at our local track. On Friday, Ocean Heights has an entry on the all-weather at Southwell while we have jumps entries at Ffos Las and Newbury.

At the weekend, King Turgeon has an entry in the Grimthorpe chase at Doncaster. He needs to bounce back from a rare bad run at Musselburgh last time and this looks like a suitable opportunity for him. We will see what the weather does in the coming days but keep checking the Daily News on the website for the latest news on the stable runners.

We confirmed Jurancon for the Morebattle hurdle at Kelso on Saturday but we have also entered him for Newbury on the same day. A few of the more fancied horses were not confirmed for the valuable race at Kelso so once again we will see what happens in the coming days before deciding where he might go.

Chemical Dave is our only other entry at the weekend and he may make his career debut in the four-year-old junior bumper at Doncaster on Sunday. Our four year old has done all that we have asked of him and has been away for a racecourse gallop so it will be interesting to see how he gets on if he runs, it will be his first day at school!

Dave Pipe