I AM currently in Portugal with Leanne and the children and it is lovely to be away for a few days as when I return the horses will all be in from their holidays and it is a busy time ahead.

This week Hammer Dan is entered in two races at Worcester on Thursday, handicaps over 2m4f and 2m7f and he is likely to run in one of these. He will also have an entry at Newton Abbot on Sunday along with Ocean Heights and Old Bridge so keep checking the Daily News on the website for all the latest information about stable runners.

Jack has now finished school for the summer and he did some work experience with Tom Malone Bloodstock last week and enjoyed a trip to the Newmarket Horses In Training Sales.

He went through the catalogue beforehand and did his homework then picked out a few horses to look at and he had a set budget to buy one.

Things did not fall right this time, so he did not manage to buy one but it was a good experience for him.

We have multiple requests each year from schools for work experience and we take as many of the applicants as we can. We have already had some in recent weeks and actually have students from three different local schools here now.

From the work experience youngsters over the years, several have returned to do Saturday or holiday work, which has led on to some becoming members of staff when they actually leave school.

We are pleased to announce James Shaw will be joining our team next month. James finished runner up to Rian Corcoran in the novice point-to-point riders standings in the West Country last season and has ridden 17 winners between the flags. He has a Cat B amateur licence and will be a valuable asset to our team.

Last week, I mentioned some new horses have arrived from France. Over the coming weeks I shall tell you about a few more we have acquired during the summer that are exciting new recruits to the Pond House Team as well as give updates on some of our more established horses.

No Walkover is a gorgeous big four-year-old son of Poet’s Word who was bought privately after he finished second in an Irish point to point at Sladdagh Farms in February. We did a bit with him before turning him away for his summer holidays but is now back in and being ridden walking and trotting.

Indulto Rouge is a four-year-old chestnut son of French stallion Beaumac De Houelle. He has won his only start in an Irish point to point at Ballindenisk for Cormac Doyle. He was very impressive in victory, winning by 18 lengths eased down and he has been bought privately and will carry the colours of Brocade Racing. He is another likely to start in bumpers before going hurdling this season.

Windbeneathmywings has recovered well from the injury that forced him to miss the Champion Bumper at this year’s Cheltenham Festival. That has fully healed and fingers crossed there should be no problems relating to this going forwards. He has summered well at grass and is now back doing some roadwork. He is an exciting novice hurdler for the season ahead.

David Pipe’s column as told to Richard Walsh