WE HAD just a few runners last week and Jack Pipe and Ocean Heights got the ball rolling at Bath last Monday. This was Jack’s first ride as an amateur and he did well to finish fourth.

Navarau made a pleasing return to the track to be fifth at Ffos Las on Thursday in a novice hurdle. Jaipaletemps was a little disappointing on his comeback run at Ffos Las but hopefully the handicapper will drop him a couple of pounds and he can bounce back next time.

Karnaval Point ran a cracker at Cheltenham on Saturday to be third in the valuable handicap chase over three miles. He travelled and jumped very well and battled all the way up the hill to be a close third. He proved his liking for the track and I think he can improve again when the ground eases further.

Our first runner this week will be Eton Mes at Newton Abbot on Wednesday with Conor O’Farrell on board. He will be making his seasonal reappearance and the more rain they get at the track the better.

On Thursday, Belfrina is likely to run at Bath on the flat in the 1m2f handicap contest. She was due to run at Newbury last week but that was abandoned so we will try again this week!

October Hill has entries at Ffos Las on Thursday and Wetherby on Friday and so is likely to take up one of these engagements while Goodbye Earl could make his stable debut in the bumper at Ffos Las, ground permitting.

At the weekend we have confirmed Neon Moon for the valuable staying handicap chase at Ascot, a race he finished third in last year and he is likely to run. Masterius could make his hurdling debut while Parchment also has an entry in the two-mile handicap hurdle.

Keep Star and Royal Mer have entries at the additional Worcester fixture on Sunday and keep checking the Daily News on the website for all the latest info on the stable runners.

Some more of the horses that have joined us since we first wrote our Horses in Training: RIPTIDE - A nice big four-year-old son of Galileo Chrome who was purchased privately after winning his Irish point to point at Bartlemy in May. He is nearly ready to run and will start off in bumpers before going novice hurdling.

PUREZAND - A giant of a horse by the sire Harzand, he is an unraced handsome four-year-old gelding. A long term chaser of the future he goes nicely up the gallops and another to be starting in bumpers before going novice hurdling.

MAGICO - A five-year old chestnut gelding, by the sire Le Havre. He is a four-time career winner, three on the flat and one over hurdles. Likely to have run or two on the all-weather this winter before going hurdling and there is plenty of fun to be had with him going forwards.

NIGHT AGENT - A lovely three-year-old gelding who has just joined us from France, having won his latest start over hurdles at Auteuil. He has just had the three starts, improving with each run and finishing second on his second start and then winning last time. He will be running very soon and is still looking for an owner, so get in touch for more info!

Dave Pipe was talking to Richard Walsh.