LAST and this week remain fairly quiet on the runners front with Best Night being our only runner at Newton Abbot on Monday and nothing then until the weekend. Keep checking the Daily News on the website for all the latest news on this front.

I spent the weekend in Ireland celebrating the 40th birthday of Myles Doyle, a friend and former employee here at Pond House. He has always kept in touch and follows the Irish point-to-point scene closely, so is always on the phone and this was our first visit to his home area.

We were saddened to hear that our former great Lough Derg passed away over the weekend at the grand old age of 25. Affectionately known in the yard as ‘Douglas’ he was ridden and looked after in his days at Pond House by my now wife, Leanne.

He was an individual full of personality and she has always said that if he was human he would be wearing Mickey Mouse boxers and would be your most loyal friend! She often says that he really had no idea that he was such an amazing racehorse.

He was the winner of 12 of his 61 starts and was placed 19 times, winning over £374,000 in prize money.

Vision De Maine (FR) - Started last season with two wins over fences and then ‘bumped’ into one to finish a close second when bidding for his hat-trick. Still only a six year old, he is lightly raced and there is more to come from him off his current rating in staying chases this season.

Walkadina (FR) - She was very impressive in winning on hurdling debut at Uttoxeter last season and then was consistent after this to be placed each time but perhaps did not progress as much as we might have hoped. She impresses with her homework and so we hope there is more to come on the track. Will jump fences at some point as well.

Windbeneathmywings (IRE) - Came from Ireland having won two bumpers and finishing second on the other occasion and blew his rivals away on stable debut. Everything was geared to the Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival in March but sadly he picked up an injury just before and we could not run him. The good news is that after box rest and some time out of grass he has returned in A1 this season and we are dreaming of what might be over hurdles this winter. The Supreme novices hurdle will be his long-term aim and we will work backwards from there.

Wordsworth (IRE) - a high-class flat performer, he won impressively on hurdling and stable debut at Bangor in October 2023. Finished down the field in the Cesarewitch at Newmarket after this but returned with an injury, which has kept him off the track since. Will be great to get him back at some point over hurdles and on the flat.

Yggdrasil (FR) - is the winner of three chases in his career and was rated 127 at best. He has just had four runs for Pond House, being placed on three of those starts. We will be disappointed if he cannot win from his current rating once the rain has come this season and he should give our racing club members some good days out.

David Pipe was speaking to Richard Walsh