IT WAS a good week for the yard with three winners on the board from six runners at a 50% strike rate but, as usual, things did not all go smoothly! A typical racing week!

Our first runners of last week did not come until Thursday at Doncaster and we travelled up there in search of a bit better ground but it basically rained all day and so that went out of the window! October Hill did not enjoy conditions by the time it came to her race at the end of the day but she ran okay to be fourth; she will be better returned to a sounder surface.

Harley’s Pride did not mind conditions in the opening contest on the card and won on handicap debut under a good ride from Rian Corcoran. Stepped up in trip the other day she appreciated going a bit slower throughout and Rian rode her very confidently.

It was a brilliant day for the team at Warwick on Saturday! Kingston Queen has barely put a foot wrong since joining us and has some high class form in the book. She was impressive in beating a subsequent Grade 2 winner at Chepstow on hurdling debut and then we were a little disappointed in her finishing third at Cheltenham after this.

With the winner now favourite for the Supreme novice’s hurdle at Cheltenham next month it was probably not a bad run and I do not think she was at her best that day either. She will have an entry in the mare’s novices hurdle at Cheltenham next month and while there aren’t many better mares this side of the Irish Sea perhaps there are a few lurking over the other side! We will see how she is and make a plan but there are other nice opportunities coming up in the Spring for mares and there is plenty to look forward to with her.

Phantomofthepoints was given a lovely front running ride by Rian Corcoran and he made all and scored impressively in the three-mile handicap hurdle. He is likely to get an entry in the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys handicap hurdle at the Festival as he will be rated in the mid 130s after this win and we will certainly consider running there.

This Week on Tuesday, Ocean Heights runs on the all-weather at Lingfield and on Wednesday, Cynthia makes her stable debut on the all-weather at Kempton. While her jumping is progressing at home I thought it was a good opportunity to get her onto the track for our Racing Club members. She was last seen on the flat finishing second at Nottingham in October over a 1m6f and a repeat of that run would see her have a good chance in this. Apprentice Jack Dace rides both of our flat runners.

Later in the week we have entries at Taunton on Thursday and at Chepstow and Kelso on Friday. Keep checking the Daily News on the website for all the latest news on the stable runners.

At the weekend, Thanksforthehelp has an entry at Haydock while Jurancon, Gericault Roque and Gold in the Rivers are our entries at Ascot. A little closer to home, Eton Mes and Royal Mer have entries at Wincanton and will love conditions if the rain keeps falling.

Trainer Dave Pipe was talking to Richard Walsh.