Hello & Happy New Year to all readers,

The last 10 days have given us the normal batch of highs & lows that
the sport of horse racing can provide. Here is the latest on the
string ........

ASTURIENNE - she gave everyone a massive thrill when winning at
Huntingdon on Boxing Day. Her work had been good but Alan told me
she would be too immature to win a bumper on debut & that he
considered her to be pretty green.

At the track she was unruly in the pre parade & very hard to saddle
but quietened down once Wayne Hutchinson got on top. During the race
she continually came on & off the bridle but gamely responded each
time Wayne gave her a little squeeze. Entering the straight she saw a
gap between two horses and nipped through to win easily going away.
Wayne was suitably impressed & said she would have learnt so much
from her first run. She can only improve and go on from here.

Race times can be misleading, particularly in bumpers, but her
division was 5 seconds faster than the next. This win was a super
Christmas present for the syndicate & a big surprise for the
trainer. After a little break her next race will be a qualifier for
the EBF Doncaster Sales Listed Mares Final at Sandown on March 7th.
Expect to see her again around the end of the month.

It was good to see her half brother LOUGH DERG add to his tally this
week. Having won over 1/4 million in his career Lough Derg has been
a superb servant to the Pipe team. If Asturienne is half as good we
will have some fun.

CHARMAINE WOOD - will be declared to race on Monday at Taunton in an
EBF Qualifier. She'll have a hard task to win under two penalties
in, what could be, a good looking field but we'll probably use a
claimer to reduce her load. If Taunton falls to the frost she
automatically qualifies for the Newbury handicap final in March.

We may re-route to Fontwell on Wednesday for a 0-125 handicap if
Taunton gets abandoned. It's quite a valuable event so it's
definitely worth looking at as an alternative. The step up to 2m4f
shouldn't be a problem as she comes from a good staying family.

DANSIMAR - we went to Wincanton for her handicap debut with optimism
based on home gallop reports & yard form. You wouldn't want to play
poker against Venetia as she gives little away but her comments were
uncharacteristically fairly positive prior to this race. However the
outcome was disappointing & quite baffling.

Dansimar did get worked up in the saddling area & was really on her
toes in the parade ring. That wouldn't have helped but during the
race all was going fine until 3 out but when Aidan pushed some
buttons nothing happenned. She fell into a heap & came home a well
beaten last of 5 finishers. Hugely disappointing !

Dansimar is being assessed by the vets so more news on her next time
but we hope she'll be back soon, she is 100% sound. If there is a
positive to take from a run like that ....... the handicapper
dropped her to 127 from 130.

DARYAL - he is doing well at Gary's. I'll be speaking with him
towards the end of next week so we should know a lot more at that
stage.

KANDJAR DALLIER - is in good form ahead of his race at Warwick on
10th January having been kept deliberately fresh since Haydock. We
know Kandjar stays 3m2f but aren't sure if he'll get the marathon
3m5f as it's his first try. The only way to find out for certain is
to run him but Choc thinks we'll be Ok. Good or good to soft ground
would be ideal. It's a big first prize and is therefore sure to be
a highly competitive race but our tough & game grey will be trying
his absolute best for us as usual.

LATIN SCHOLAR - he is ready to race in terms of fitness but needs two
more schools on the grass before we can place an entry. His
schooling on the all weather strip has been good but Alan needs to
put the finishing touches once freeze relents. Alan is very pleased
with Latin & is looking forward to seeing him on the track. As a 76
rated winner on the flat & one with plenty of scope he should do
nicely over hurdles. We shall be looking for some decent ground.

OSCAR JACK - he has been declared to race on Sunday at Plumpton so we
hope that meeting beats the freeze. Sam Thomas takes the ride in
this 11 runner event. If Plumpton gets abandoned we have Huntingdon
on Thursday up our sleeve.

THEATRE DIVA - we took a calculated punt with Diva last Saturday at
Kempton. There was no other suitable alternative for her over the
Festive period so we took the plunge by stepping her up to 3m for a
valuable Mares handicap. Tom Scudamore took the ride. Tom was very
professional before the race as he telephoned Sam Thomas, Venetia and
myself to swot up on the mare & discuss tactics.

The race was run at a quick tempo and Diva travelled really well
until 3 out but then the petrol tank began to empty. Tom said she
failed to stay the trip, it was as simple as that. He added that she
isn't a quick horse so it does give the impression she'll get a bit
further but, hindsight says, she needs 2m4f. Tom was good value post
race as he gave some articulate feedback & genuine hope for the
future. Diva has come out the race well so we shall look for
something suitable in a couple of weeks.

THEATRE GIRL - has returned to Goldford Stud to commence her stud
duty. It will be interesting to see which sire Richard & Sally Aston
decide to cover Theatre Girl. With her size, scope and undoubted
talent she should make a fantastic brood.

VALLEYOFTHEDOLLS - she had an easy week after her Ludlow bumper run
but will be back towards the middle of the month in a novice hurdle.
Alan needs to give her some work & a school on the grass but her
jumping should be fine, reports last year were excellent. She should
be an exciting addition to the novice hurdle ranks but does want
genuine good ground to be seen at her best.

Until next time .......

regards,
Mark