THE weather seems to be a good place to start this week, with the lack of rain in some places and plenty in others - like the rain that caused disruption at Ayr on Saturday!

In August, we had 52mm of rain at Pond House but the figures are a little misleading as 24mm of this fell on the final day of the month and skewed the results a little.

The ground was fairly quick at Uttoxeter last week and while we headed there with high hopes it turned into a bad day. Harry and Grand Clermont finished lame from their races and while okay, are both likely to have run their last races and will be heading into retirement.

Rian Corcoran thought October Hill didn’t really let herself down and therefore didn’t run her race and we decided to withdraw Martin’s Denuo.

Oceans Heights backed up his win at Newton Abbot with a solid display to be fourth back at the track on Friday. It was always going to be difficult for him dropping back down in distance to 2m1f (his win was 2m5f) and he was in top gear for a long way but to his credit he galloped all the way to the line.

Thetype Istitle ran well to be third at Plumpton on Sunday and can be winning over hurdles, perhaps stepping up in distance again. Mancero was a little disappointing but he is a character and has already won two races this summer.

We remain fairly quiet on the runner’s front in the coming days while we wait for rain to arrive although Affection could run on the all-weather at Southwell.

On Friday, we have both Karnaval Point and Martin’s Denuo entered in the summer chase final at Worcester.

Please find below details of more of the horses who will be running for Pond House this season - MANCERO:It took him a while to acclimatize to racing in Britain but he is now a dual winner over hurdles on this side of the Channel to add to his win in France.

MARKIE B: A lovely unraced three-year-old purchased during the summer out of a nine-time winning mare. The junior bumpers and hurdle races will be his autumn targets.

MARTIN’S DENUO: A five-time winner from France who made a pleasing stable debut at Fontwell. He gets a nice age allowance over fences at the moment so will probably stick to the larger obstacles for now but could revert to hurdles at some point.

MASTER MCGARRY: A gorgeous big individual, the winner of his only start in an Irish point in April 2025 at Quakerstown. We bought him at the Punchestown sale but he didn’t make it to the track last season. Goes nicely at home and will be going novice hurdling.

MASTERIUS: Acquired from the Goffs Summer Sale after finishing second in his only start in an Irish point; has finished second and third in bumpers at Market Rasen. Is a nice prospect for the season ahead.

MAX POTENTIAL: A new recruit from the Irish point to point field. He made a big impression in his first point to point, looking like the winner and leading when falling at the final fence. A potential high class prospect we are looking forward to starting him in bumpers before going novice hurdling.

Dave Pipe was speaking to Richard Walsh.