IT HAS been another good week for the yard with three winners, which included a breath-taking stable debut from Windbeneathmywings, and two wins for the ultra-tough and likeable mare, Lady Balko. We are now on 36 winners for the season and I hope we can add to this further before 2024 draws to a close.

Windbeneathmywings was bought with two bumper wins and a second to his name in Ireland and his then trainer, Pat Flynn, told us how highly he regarded him and so he proved with his win at Ascot on Friday. He is the type of horse that could also run on the flat as well and so it is great to have such an exciting young horse at Pond House.

Lady Balko won at Plumpton on Monday, her second win over fences and then followed up with a win at Hereford in a competitive mares handicap chase on Saturday to bring up her hat trick of wins over the larger obstacles. She is a lovely five-year-old mare with good amount of ability and an attitude to match. She is tough and really tries for you. She jumps very well, stays very well and I think there is more to come. She has now won six races for us since joining the Pond House and while she will now have a little rest, there is lots to look forward to with her in 2025.

Aside from the winners, there were two great runs from Neon Moon and Tuxedo Junction who both finished second in their respective races. Jilaijone ran another solid race to be fourth at Haydock, as did Pachacuti at Exeter and Micronormous at Fakenham who both also filled the same position.

Racing takes a couple of day’s breather now before the feast on Boxing Day.

We have six runners on Thursday across four meetings spread around the country. We are represented at Wincanton, Fontwell, Sedgefield and Wetherby. Kingston Queen travels to Sedgefield to run in the mare’s bumper with Gearoid Harney riding. This looks a good opportunity for her to hopefully get her first win on the board under rules.

American Sniper travels to Wetherby and heads the weights in a 2m5f handicap hurdle. He was too keen in first time blinkers at Cheltenham last time and reverts to sheepskin cheek pieces this time. Callum Pritchard rides and takes seven pounds off and as long as the ground is not too testing, he should run well.

Gentleman Toboot heads to Fontwell and runs in the bumper and Jack Tudor rides. He finished third on debut at Newton Abbot on his only start to date and he is a horse we hold in high regard. He is one for the future but I hope he has a very good chance.

Wincanton is our local meeting and where we have the most runners. We have three runners, Walkadina, Vision De Maine and First Lord Du Cuet and David Noonan rides all three. Walkadina drops down in class slightly after a good fourth last time while Vision De Main tackles some stronger opposition but is in good form at home and it will be interesting to see how he gets on.

The horse that beat him last time is progressive and has won again since and so the form looks solid. First Lord Du Cuet reverts to hurdling the Pertemps qualifier, which looks competitive. He is well handicapped on old form and likes Wincanton but need to improve on his seasonal reappearance. .

Finally thanks for all your interest over 2024 and hope you all have a wonderful festive break

David Pipe’s column