THE 2024-25 jumps season came to a thrilling conclusion with Willie Mullins having yet another super Saturday and from being behind Dan Skelton at the start of the day ended well in front to win the title in convincing fashion.
We end the season on 50 winners, which is a great achievement, bettering last year’s 46, from less runners as well. We also bettered our previous winning prize money total, winning £617,583, up by £160,000 and operating at a 14% strike rate (up from 12%). Thirty-two per cent of the different horses we ran combined to register our wins and Jack Tudor was on board 42 of our 50 winners. Jack has had his best ever season and finished on the 70 winner mark, with his previous best being 47 last season. It is a step back in the right direction for the team and something to build on again this time around.
Jumps racing takes a few days break before getting underway again at Uttoxeter and Hexham at the weekend.
We do, of course, have Punchestown to look forward to in between and we are heading across the Irish Sea with two runners who run in the opening contest on Wednesday’s card at 2.30pm.
American Sniper and Thanksforthehelp both travel over for the Adare Manor Opportunity Series handicap hurdle final; a race the latter has been placed in before. The race is for conditional jockeys and Ben Bromley will partner American Sniper while Gavin Brouder rides Thanksforthehelp.
American Sniper is owned by a group of local lads and they love going to Punchestown every year anyway, so to have a runner out there is a dream come true. It will be a fiercely competitive handicap but I would hope both of our horses have small each way chances.
Our first runners of the new season in Britain are likely to be at Uttoxeter on Saturday where Punta Del Este, Missy Mole and Neon Moon all have entries. Keep checking the Daily News on the website for all the latest information on the stable runners.
King Turgeon leads the way for the yard in amount of prize money won this season, just over £103,000, while Chemical Warfare was the leader numerically with a terrific eight wins to his name.
Kingston Queen and Lady Balko are two mares who have had great seasons adding two and three wins to the team total respectively. Kingston Queen won a bumper on Boxing Day at Sedgefield before listed success at Market Rasen in January.
Jurancon is an exciting young horse who won three times during the season and is now five wins from eight starts in his career and finishing runner up on the other three occasions as well. The plan was for him to run at Aintree but I decided against it because of the ground and put him away for the season. I would like to take this opportunity to thank my wonderful owners and team of staff without whom, none of this would be possible.
Leanne and I are off to Punchestown later this week, I hope you all enjoy the sunshine forecast and the action from Ireland. Thanks for reading and supporting Pond House over the last 12 months and here’s to a happy and successful 2025-26 season ahead.
Dave Pipe was speaking to Richard Walsh