More questions ...

....than answers . Had a good chat with DP yesterday . He sounded - naturally - a bit fed up . I think we're all clutching at straws a bit but we made a few points -
George's bad runs - 3 - have all come at Cheltenham .
His last run was a very credible 3rd in a gr.1 .
He's not jumping with his old fluency .
Remedies -
Give him a good break - KG just might have taken its toll -
Miss out Cheltenham & aim him at Aintree -
Put him back over hurdles -
Give him a couple of race course gallops -
A change of tactics .
Any thought out there ? And thankyou ( both ) for all the messages of support . George is getting the usual health check today and if anything comes to light I will report . CU

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Back to the drawing boards

Tom Scu got off and said that George hated the ground and couldn't jump in it . He's somewhere lost his confidence - or he's not mentally putting it all in . It could be the heavy ground - it might be that he's taken an aversion to Cheltenham - but to me - unfortunately - he's just not the horse as he once was . Just not travelling like he use to .
But it's too early to right him off . If he's doing it on the home gallops - and he is - then we have something to work on . He did come 3rd in The KG in his has last race and that was on a flat track . I haven't heard from DP this morning yet but when I do I shall report . CU later

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Will he....

....won't he....get the trip . There's no doubt the race will be a gruelling contest . The ground will - I would have thought - ride on the dead side - which is the norm when covers have been in place for so long . I think the general consensus among the the so called 'experts' is that George is not an out & out stayer and therefor not a Gold Cup type . I suppose it's time to find out ! How I would love for George to prove them all wrong . CU - after the race

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We're on

Such is racing - on off on - probably more exciting than the race itself . And now the favourite - Bobs Worth - is out ! Does that make George favourite ? Haven't seen any odds but how I wish I took the 8s offered earlier in the week !
I better start packing - CU

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Racing Post: Bobs Worth out of Argento and Tidal Bay unlikely to run

SATURDAY'S Argento Chase at Cheltenham was dealt a double blow on Thursday as favourite Bobs Worth was ruled out the race, while Tidal Bay is a major doubt for Paul Nicholls.

Read the full story at: http://www.racingpost.com/news/horse-racing/cheltenham-bobs-worth-out-of-argento-and-tidal-bay-unlikely-to-run/1192100/

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Weekend racing ?

George and Geoff both have entries for this weekend - weather permitting . George contests The Argento at Cheltenham where he will be up against The Gold Cup favorite Bobs Worth and a host of other top horses . There's no hiding place from here on in - and we need to find out ! If he's the horse he once was ( does that make any sense ) I would jump in at 8-1 - but who really knows ? DP thinks he's back to his best !
Geoff is heading to a Grade 2 at Donny over 3m . The Clerk up there is pretty hopeful of racing going ahead but again the forecast looks horrendous .
I'm in Portugal at the moment . Yesterday was spring like - but today its blowing a right ol' hooly . I think my return will depend on what happens this weekend ! C U
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Vieux Lion Rouge -

- in winners enclosure at Newbury . I was with the owner - the lovely Prof (no less) Caroline Tisdall when she purchased the horse at the Aquana sales in Deauville . I think she's got a 'agoodun' !

DP update

Looking further forward, it is that time of the year when the big races at the Cheltenham Festival begin closing.  Last week we entered Grands Crus and Junior in the Gold Cup as well as Grands Crus and Zaynar in the Ryanair Chase.  Tomorrow (Tuesday) the entries close for the big hurdles and we will be entering Grands Crus and Dynaste (pictured right) in the World Hurdle as well as Flying Cross in the Champion Hurdle.

With Big Buck's an absentee it has thrown the World Hurdle wide-open and while Grands Crus and Dynaste will hold preferred engagements over fences, it would be foolish not to give them an entry and at least see what the likely opposition will be…afterall, if you are not in it, you can't win it.

Grands Crus continues to please me at home and while he was fit enough to do himself justice; he has improved again since his fine third in the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day.  The ground that day was very testing and I am sure that he will be seen to even better effect on a sounder surface, something we should have come March.

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Fwd: Wincanton - Geoff - 5 Jan

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Begin forwarded message:

From: "Chris Queen" <chris.queen@tiscali.co.uk>
Date: 12 January 2013 17:03:03 GMT
To: "Nicola Stanley" <nicolastanley55@sky.com>, "Roger Stanley" <roger@farmerschoice.co.uk>, <paul.j.reynolds@btinternet.com>
Subject: Wincanton - Geoff - 5 Jan

Hi Y'All

 

Here's a few pics I took last Saturday. Thanks for posting the proofs Paul. It was a great day.

 

Enjoy the rest of the weekend.

 

Chris

<DSCN0649.JPG>

<DSCN0651.JPG>

<DSCN0655.JPG>

<DSCN0663.JPG>

<DSCN0666.JPG>

Quick update

Spoke to DP last week - he seemed a bit surprised that I was away skiing - having been struck down with 'man flu' the weekend of Geoff's win . Geoff has been raised 15lb to a mark of 145 for his efforts - but that might prove to be quite lenient . With these young horse once they start improving there is no limit to what they can potentially achieve - which is the most exciting thing about the sport . If he does go for a handicap at The Festival ( I see he's about 10-1 fav for the Coral ) then he should be confidently backed .
There are a couple of options for George - The Argento at Cheltenham ( would probably have to take on Gold Cup favourite Bobsworth ) The Denman at Newbury ( Long Run ) or The Ascot Chase over 2m 6f . No hiding place for him but trainer says he's come out of his KG 3rd really well - just got it to prove it on the race course . Let's hope he does .
Bruce is getting over his 'nasty gash' and will be back in training next week - but won't be out till the end of February .
And I can report that Only is back in training after his little setback . We would love to aim him for The Scottish National at Ayr in April .C U
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Fwd: Gevrey Chambertin

Hello Rog , 

Hope everything ok, and skiing good. Had these through from Wincanton today. Some great shots of Geoffrey's head, and the 2 shots of Martin which seem to show he's spending too much time with the horses!! Please pass them on to Chris and Debs, because I think they really enjoyed their connection, and the day.

See you soon

Paul.

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Begin forwarded message:

From: MATTHEW WEBB <matthewwebb243@btinternet.com>
Date: 11 January 2013 15:11:59 GMT
To: "paul.j.reynolds@btinternet.com" <paul.j.reynolds@btinternet.com>
Subject: Gevrey Chambertin
Reply-To: MATTHEW WEBB <matthewwebb243@btinternet.com>

Hello Mr Reynolds

 

I attach a set of digital proofs of your winner at Wincanton on Saturday, I have also today posted you a printed set.

 

Kind Regards

 

Matthew Webb

 

01488 649944 Office

07901 940232 Mobile

Easy day for me - DP s blog

Tel: 01884 840715
Email: David@DavidPipe.com
Martin Pipe www.MartinPipe.com

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Cheltenham Festival 2013

Entries & Recent Form

A Likely Tail!

Monday, 07 January 2013 16:49Written by David Pipe

I have heard a wide variety of excuses in my time but even I wasn't prepared for the one that Tom Scudamore served up at Exeter last Tuesday!  Scu returned from his ride aboard Bamboleo in the 2m3f National Hunt novices' hurdle and proceeded to tell me that his mount would have finished significantly closer if he had not become entangled in the tail of weaking rival Silver Commander entering the home straight!  Bamboleo lost his position quite badly before staying on again into fourth place once becoming free of the wayward tresses…hopefully he will  have more luck in running next time and there won't be anymore 'hair-raising  experiences'!  Oh dear, I think I have been hanging around Chester Barnes too long!

The horses continue in splendid form and although Bamboleo didn't reach the winners' enclosure, we did enjoy a treble on New Year's Day and owner Malcolm Denmark did taste success on the Exeter card when Buddy Bolero made a winning chase debut.  Although his task was made somewhat easier by the underperforming favourite Ambion Wood, this was nonetheless a very good effort from our charge who was having his first start in over 12 months.  He jumped very well and stayed on resolutely to deny Theatrical Star – we have always thought plenty of him and I am sure that he will improve again when he is stepped up to three miles.

Swing Bowler was very good when extending her unbeaten run to five in a valuable handicap hurdle at Musselburgh and she continues to surprise and impress us in equal measure.  She looked to have a real race on her hands when landing a minor race at Newton Abbot the previous March but this was a real step forward.  Just for a moment she looked to be in trouble turning for home but she picked up in good style under Conor O'Farrell and came away to score nicely in the end.   There aren't many that are still unbeaten after five runs so let's hope that we can keep this great run intact for a while longer.

The hat-trick was completed when Home Run (pictured above) recorded his amazing fifth win in period of just 25 days by winning in the hands of Frank Hayes (the fourth claiming jockey from the yard to win upon him) up at Musselburgh.  Home Run has become something of a celebrity since starting his winning spree, even earning an early nomination from David Ashforth for horse of the year!  Whilst that might be a little fanciful you cannot crab any horse that wins five races, nevermind within the space of a month.  He may not be the most talented horse in the yard, but he is tough, presents the lads in the yard excellent opportunities and I would be happy to have plenty more like him.

It was another good day on Saturday when Grands Crus' full brother Gevrey Chambertin (pictured right) proved an initial handicap rating of 130 to be on the conservative side when winning in good style under Tom Scudamore at Wincanton.  Gevrey Chambertin (and I'm not sure if it is the horse or the wine) is obviously a great tonic for part-owner Roger Stanley.  Roger was struck down with a serious bout of man flu and was unable to attend the races on Saturday, however having spoken to him this morning he is currently away skiing and clearly back in rude health…I would certainly like some of whatever it is that he is having!

Unfortunately Tom Scu's impression of Anneka Rice, flying between Wincanton and Chepstow (a la Treasure Hunt) did not come to fruition as Master Overseer never really figured in the Welsh National.  This was a disappointing effort, although his big day came last time out when landing a Grade 3 chase at Cheltenham.  He is as tough as old boots and there will be other days for him, a comment that also applies to our other Welsh National runner Sona Sasta who unseated amateur rider Mikey Ennis.

We didn't leave Chepstow empty handed however as Amigo produced a good effort to land the three mile handicap hurdle under Conor O'Farrell.  A good winner over hurdles and fences in France before joining us, I wouldn't be at all surprised if he wound up being a Welsh National type this time next season.  Until then however, I would imagine that he will remain over timber and could go to the Cheltenham Festival for something like the Pertemps handicap hurdle although his rating will need to rise in the meantime.

Michael Heard, one of the stable's amateur jockeys enjoyed a good day on Sunday when recording a treble on the point-to-point card at Wadebridge.  Well done to him and to former inmate Faasel upon whom Michael won the Men's Open.

Looking to the week ahead we will have runners tomorrow at Chepstow and Leicester, while we also have entries at Ludlow, Doncaster, Catterick, Huntingdon, Warwick and Wetherby later in the week.  For all the latest information on the stable runners you can keep up to date by checking Chester's Daily Chat.

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Geoff parading -

- at Wincanton

Gamble landed

To be honest I thought the race was going to be tougher than it turned out to be but the result was never in jeopardy . Geoff is an amazingly laid back fella and just loves his racing - where as George is pent up ball of muscle waiting to explode ( not that he's done too much exploding just recently). The one thing they do have in common though is that they are both highly talented . Geoff is just easier to train and ride .
It certainly gives us lots of options come March - for both . George will have entries for Gold Cup - Ryanair and The World Hurdle . Geoff - The Neptune - Albert Bartlett and The Pertemps - I think the second is the more fancied .
Off skiing this week so I don't expect much to report . I'm going to try and get an indication from the trainer as to what pre-festival race George is likely to be aimed at - but I won't be holding my breath on that one ! CU
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Geoff ....

...heads to Wincanton this Saturday . Tom Scu takes the ride and then heads to Chepstow - by heli - to ride Master Overseer in The Welsh Nat . They think they'll both run close.
This is his first attempt in a handicap - been novices so far - but trainer thinks he is well in of a mark of 130 . DP also says that he wants to find out how he handles a right handed track. He also thinks Geoff might be a Pertemps type horse at the festival. Fingers crossed - hopefully we can get back to winning ways . CU

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Happy New Year ....

.... to the both of you - though it didn't get us off with a winner! Unfortunately Bruce got 'struck into' from a horse behind and came back with a nasty gash in his hind leg . Although he's a bit lame and sore this morning it shouldn't take too long to get him back in training . We were going to take in a nice race at Ayr on the way home but - there you go -such are plans !
Geoff looks like he's heading off to Wincanton on Saturday . I hate chasing my losses but if he goes in the handicap I'll have a chance of recouping some of it .
Looking back on the festive period the obvious highlight was George's very credible 3rd in The King George . It was a terrific day and it was great to have so many friends & family there cheering him on . And to everyone who tuned in to watch the race on the box . And to all my fellow 'hackers' at Camporeal who take such a keen interest in my nags -THANKYOU - CU
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