Decision time

To be very honest - after Geoffrey's efforts at Ascot - I just couldn't imagine him running at The Cheltenham Festival . Which - from my view - is not necessarily a bad thing . A lot of horses come back nackered after Cheltenham - so leaving the door open for good prize money to be had in latter part of the season . However - DP has other ideas !
Geoff has been pulling like a train up the gallops . Last week he ran off with his rider ! We're still unsure why he stopped like he was shot at Ascot . He didn't bleed - we think - so the thought is that he had some 'air to his lungs' problem . So he will be tongue tied for the RSA and will be ridden with more restraint . We'll take our chance in a race that just might 'cut up'. This still allows us to retain his novice status for next year - that is - unless he wins !!! Dream Baby Dream . ( from Brucies latest album - dummy! ) CU
Footnote - will be doing my very funny and brilliantly written 'La Blog' every day at Chelenham - subscription required !
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Disappointed ...

... but not down hearted . At times like this one has to remember the wonderful days that racing has given us . DP phoned this morning to say that Geoff ate up last night and is well this morning . He scoped fine - no blood - and for me that was a huge relief . He's been checked over by vets at Ascot and at home and - apart from a little throat inflammation - is A ok .
One can make up excuses why Geoff came to a sudden stop two out . And what with the problem his brother had to endure it is easy to think the worse . However - its way to early to call . For a first time novice he jumped brilliantly . Tom Scu wanted to get away from his rivals going down to Swinley Bottom and to give him a bit of a break going to 3 from home - but he couldn't build enough lead . So he was all out for too long with the eventual winner coming from of the pace . In ground that deep it was just too much . We see how he is over the next week .
It was a bit of a roller coaster day for the Pond House team .
We got off to a flyer with expensive new recruit Un Temps Pour Tout - followed by Geoffrey being pulled up - then Welak falling - Top Wood winning at Haydock at 25-1 ( a rare good tip from the trainer ) and knight of Noir winning at Wincanton for Wayne Clifford . I can barely cope with one runner - how trainers do it only heaven knows!
CU

Ascot ...

... bound ! So Geoffrey gets his chance on Saturday to get himself into the RSA picture - and guess who's away ? Yea - no point planning anything in this game - especially this season - so just go with it . Nic and myself are down in a very sunny Ceret and arn't planning to come back to the following weekend . And will Ascot be on anyway ?
So 'hells bells' - we'll watch it on the box !
Still - its a very nice race and would've been my preferred option - not that a daft owner would have any influence with DP .
Geoff's got a good racing weight and DP says he's schooled well and is pleased with him. Its his first chase so a clear round is the order . CU
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A very cold - wet & windy ...

... Newbury - all warmed up with a terrific performance from Lady Caroline's Dell ' Arca - who came 2nd in The Betfair Hurdle . Lady C was unfortunately absent on Saturday but she must have been very proud of the run . I think Dell ' Arca is still a novice - so it'll be interesting what race he goes for at Cheltenham .
And then my mate Brian Drew had a winner across at Warwick with Tullyeska Hill . What a great double that would have been ! Brian also had a winner at Huntingdon on Thursday with Pride Of The Castle - so what a fantastic week he had ! Well done Bri !
I'm not too sure what to make of the race Geoff was supposed to go for . It was won by Smad Place and he's now very prominent in the betting for The RSA in what looks to be a very open market . Geoff is quoted at around 16s and I recon he would have gone close on Saturday . He's entered for Fakenham !!! on Friday as well as Ascot Saturday - now which one do you think I would prefer ??? CU
P S - picture of me getting up close with Dell 'Arca ... O ... and Rosie !!!

Don't ya just love this ....

... game . Geoffrey didn't scope 100% this morning and will miss his intended target at Newbury this weekend . This sort've thing can happen - especially this time of year with little bugs going round . He'll now get an entry for The Reynoldstown at Ascot the following Saturday . CU

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Geoffrey ...

... goes to Newbury . Anyway - that's the plan - and providing it doesn't get rained off ! So something to look forward to for the end of the week .
Looking back - I never did do an update for Only Witness . Well - the race at Warwick worked out bloody perfect - he got pulled up and retired . Poor ol'bugger - he's never quite got over the leg injury he sustained last year and he should have been retired then . But you know what it's like with trainers - 'we'll give him to the end of the season' and then 'to the end of the year' . The last result I needed was for the horse to run on into a place - then it would be 'I think he's on his way back' ! We'll find him a good home . CU
Ps - just looked at the entries for Geoffrey's race - and it looks quite a hot race

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