Geoffrey ...

... a non runner . We miss Newbury on Thursday - DP said he wasn't completely happy with his blood - but horse well within himself . There's plenty of opportunities coming up - probably when I'm away !!
CU
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Here we go ...

... AGAIN ! Geoffrey is heading to The Hennessy ... meeting . Well - we might have had Hennessy aspirations at the beginning of the season - but that dream has well and truly been put to bed - for another season at least !
But he does have an entry for Newbury on the Thursday for a novice handicap . Now - he's been put down 10lb ( some of us think he should be just put down! ) which would make him exceedingly well handicapped - if he could only be arsed ! It's about time he new that I was the biggest f...... butcher in Hampshire ! CU
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Jury OUT ..

... on Geoffrey ! Once again we were all left scratching our heads . He's been jumping like a stag at home - yet on the racecourse more like a deranged mule ! He might be struggling with his breathing - but that doesn't explain why he ploughed through the first and ballooned the next three . He did get back into the race - but that can't be sustained with jumping like that . We might have to put him back over hurdles to see how he copes .
However - even that didn't deflate on what was a fantastic day's racing . DP had a touch of the 'seconditis' the day before - so when Great Choice came second in the first - we all thought 'here we go again'! But Kings Palace duly obliged in the next with a commanding performance in the novices event for 'Sir' Bryan Drew and the Johnston Family . I was with Sir Bry the first time KP ran - and won - at Plumpton - so I'm virtually a part owner ! Well - that's what I tell him!
But probably the best result of the day ( sorry Bry ) was Katkeau's success in the 3m hurdle for 'Lady' Caroline - Richard & Sally Wilkins and John & Sue Gent - after a 600+ day lay off due to injury . Katkeau should have won The Fixed Brush Hurdle at Haydock a couple years back ( same race that Geoffrey won last year - and George a few years earlier ) but made a terrible mistake at the second last . The Wilkin's & Gent's don't have many horses in training - and what they've had - had bad luck with . So how nice it was to be there for their first Cheltenham winner . Hope they have many more !
Was not at Cheltenham for Sunday's racing but spoke to DP last night. He won the first race with Unique Du Cottes for JP McManus and DP sounded quite relieved that he had got a winner for the legendary Irish owner . Geoffrey came back last night - ate up - and this morning was bouncing round the yard like he never had a race !!! Well - he hadn't - had he !!! Ummm . CU

Day of near misses

All Pond House horses ran really well on day one at Cheltenham - alas though - without winning ! Best result was the Brookhouse owned Champaign West - trained by Philip Hobbs - who won the novice chase - a race won 4years ago by Grands Crus . Brookhouse was in great form - as is his horses - and I recon this one is destined for the top .
I'm sort've growing a beard at the moment - Lady Caroline ( and I'm sure Carol will say the same today ) that it's looking a bit 'scruffy' ! I said it was my 'Brookhouse ' look !
And so on to today . Geoffrey is about 20-1 in the early markets - and perhaps that's about right . But with cheek pieces back on we are looking for a big improvement ! It will have to be ! CU

Geoffrey ...

... runs at Cheltenham . Well - let's hope he runs a bit b....y quicker than he did last time ! Still - always good to have a runner on Paddypower day and will keep 'la blog ' updated . I'm at Cheltenham right now - so if I hear anything - will let you - my one and only - know first ! CU

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I'll try again !

Having reviewed Geoffrey's Ascot run I've come to the conclusion - or is it wishful thinking - that the track was just too sharpe for him . He lost ground at every turn ! Anyway - he's entered in at Cheltenham this Saturday - over 3m 3f - and with the ground likely to be on the soft / heavy we expect him to take his chance .
He's also entered for The Hennessy at the end of the month - but would have to hack up Saturday to be considered for that one . But it doesn't hurt to dream !! CU

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Entries for Geoffrey

Looking back at Geoffrey's Ascot run I've come to the conclusion - or wishful thinking

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Geoffrey ...

... disappoints . Well - at least I didn't make the trip back ! But - there you have it - we thought he was nicely handicapped - still think he's nicely handicapped - but he didn't perform . Excuses ? He did come back with a nasty cut to a hind leg but .... Tom Scu reported that he was never 'taking a cut' at his fences - jumped too safely - bit like a show jumper ! Perhaps that might be his future - show jumping ! !
On a more hopeful note though he just might need cheek pieces - and to be ridden more up with the pace . It's still early days with him . However - the jury is out out !! CU

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