WE HAVE completed the first week of the jumping mini break and so are one third of the way through.

We ended up just having one runner on the flat last week with Oceanline running at Goodwood on Friday. He ran well for a long way from the front in the staying handicap but faded inside the final few furlongs. He may not have quite stayed the trip but it was a tough race and he can be winning eased in grade very slightly.

There are no runners for the stable this week but we do have entries on the flat at the weekend. As already mentioned, Rebel Angel is entered at Leicester, while Kintaro and Final Entry have entries at Lingfield on Saturday.

Last week we sadly lost a dear friend, Dennis Dummet who passed away at the age of 87. Dennis was a former headman for Dad and then became a farm manager to Pond House, overseeing the general running of things when Dennis retired from that role. He first started work in 1971 and was still helping until quite recently when his health declined.

He was a very important person in work but he became much more than that, a dear family friend over the years. He was extremely knowledgeable about the horses and very good in charge of a team of staff.

He was quite strict but got the best out of the team, horses and people and the hard work behind the scenes paid off on the track with dad having so many winners and lots of success.

I learnt a lot from Dennis over the years and was someone I went to for advice about horses and anything to do with the country way of life really. He looked after many of our horses over the years for holidays, while some needed time out through injury and several retired horses. He had Grand National winner Miiniehoma until he passed away and still has Cyfor Malta and Dynaste and others who he adored looking after with partner, Norma.

Dennis was a great character, worked extremely hard and would do anything for us. He had plenty of familiar sayings and great sense of humour. Pond House would not have probably reached the heights it did without him behind the scenes, so we all owe him a lot and we will cherish some wonderful memories. Our thoughts are with Norma at this time and his children.

Last week, dad and I attended the funeral of Johnny Foster who passed away recently aged 90. Johnny was a good jockey and rode in three Grand Nationals in 1952, 1953 and 1954 but did not have much luck in the race! He retired from race riding in 1968 on medical advice. He actually worked for my father in the 1990s and he passed on his love of racing to his children, Martin and Dawn who followed in his footsteps and worked here at Pond House, Martin also becoming a jockey - and doing well in the saddle.

Our youngest daughter Martha had her first public appearance on pony Tandy at Anstey show on Sunday and it was a successful winning day! After a clear round and fourth place finish in the opening nursery stakes jumping, brother Jack took over the lead rein duties in the next class and they were extremely fast and won!

While their gymkhana games need a big more practice, she came home with the biggest smile on her face, which is the main thing, and she is already asking if she can go again!

Dave Pipe's weekly racing column.