The dog days of summer have led to a number of problems for jump racing. Abandonments include: Warwick (September 30th); Ludlow (October 7th); Exeter (October 15th & October 20th); Fakenham (October 16th); along with the opening fixtures of the season at Kempton (October 18th) and Wincanton (October 25th).
There are no steeplechase races at Chepstow's three day Welsh Racing Festival meet this weekend.
Earlier today Pioneer Pete went off 3/1 favourite for the Welsh Champion Hurdle and made most to win four lengths while 16/1 shot West Hill Verde fought back after the last to deny La Cote Fleurie in the Persian War Hurdle.
I thought Welsh Charger, on a mark of 123 and sporting first-time cheekpieces, worthy of a second look in the DragonBet Born In Wales Seniors' Handicap Hurdle on Sunday's card (4.22).
Back in the spring several trainers voiced their displeasure when Cheltenham cancelled their final two fixtures in order to begin drainage work after a large hole opened up in the home straight at the Trials Day meeting in January.
Clerk of the course Jon Pullin reports the upgrade work has now been successfully completed and racing returns to Prestbury Park with the Showcase meeting at the end of the month.
Regardless, Dan Skelton marches on in pursuit of Martin Pipe's record of 243 winners in a season; he has made an impressive start with 93 wins from 308 runs, a strike-rate of over 30%.
High profile purchases have found their way to Lodge Hill and Badbury Hill Barn in recent months including Push The Limit (580,000 euros, owned by Coates-Smith Racing); Isaac Of York (500,000 euros, owned by Mr Robert Kirkland); Walkonseas (500,000 euros, owned by Mr J P McManus); Kaiser Ball (£360,000, owned by Carsberg Morrall Redknapp Wilding partnership); Ilians Way (260,000 euros, owned by Babbitt Racing); Different Story (£160,000, owned by Tony Bloom & Ian McAleavy partnership); and Risky Obsession (£130,000, owned by Mr Robert Kirkland).
Harry Skelton leads the jump jockey title race with 91 wins, 24 ahead of current champion Sean Bowen.
Paul Nicholls tells readers of his Betfair blog he needs just eight more winners to beat Martin Pipe's record of GB National Hunt winners and 48 more to have 4,000 winners across all codes.
During National Racehorse Week in August I paid a visit to Tom Ellis' yard at Marton, just outside Princethorpe - a mere seven miles from Coventry; it seemed like horse sense to add the following chasers into the notebook...
Desertmore News goes chasing this term.
After the gelding won a novice hurdle at Sedgefield in March, the trainer said:
"We probably pitched Desertmore News in a bit too deep at Kempton [in the Dovecote], but I do hope he's going to get to that level at some point. It might well be when he has fences in front of him....
"He's a big, scopey type who likes nice ground and is very straightforward - it's exciting."
Subsequently beaten 15 lengths in the Novices' Championship Final at Sandown, he would have finished a lot closer but for a bad mistake at the penultimate flight.
In a schooling session on the day the gelding put himself right at the obstacles on a couple of occasions and is considered better than his current hurdle mark of 123.
The highest rated chaser in the yard behind stable veteran Latenightpass (135c) is Daytime Dreaming (130c) - a particular habit I've found difficult to throw off for the best part of 50 years.
This one wasn't able to concede 12 pounds to the Ben Pauling trained As Legends Have It at Uttoxeter in March but prior to that had won a Newbury handicap chase.
There was a quiet word too for The Dog Thief over the smaller obstacles.
When we'll get to see these, and other old friends, on a racecourse remains largely dependent on when the rains arrive...
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