Barbury is a centre of excellence, whether it's from horses trained by Alan and Neil King on the Barbury downland, as past results of the Cheltenham Festival show, at the Point-to-Point races, or at the upcoming horse trials. We've often remarked that Barbury attracts good quality horses, and that a winner at Barbury Races is a measure of a good horse, whatever the race. The efforts of one horse so far this summer support that theory.
Lotus Pond is a winner of four of his six starts last season, including a Conditions Race at the Barbury International in January and the Tedworth Gold Cup Mixed Open in April, under the guidance of Mickey Bowen. He wrapped up his Pointing season with a 20l victory over Iberico - another Barbury winner - in the Lady Dudley Cup at the Worcestershire in late April. As Pointers go, you couldn't want for a better horse.
But it hasn't been holiday time for Lotus Pond since. Switching to the professional game and from Mickey to Peter Bowen, Lotus Pond has been making hay in Summer jumping, justifying favouritism in 2 races 4 days apart last week. Having not won under Rules previously, Sean Bowen enjoyed an undemanding ride at Ffos Las in a 3m Handicap Chase on June 21 under a fly weight of 10st 8lb, and followed up 4 days later at Southwell in an indentical race despite rising 13lbs. Heavily eased on the run-in, there's every indication there's more to come from the Welsh Wizard with Lotus Pond.
With the Barbury fixtures under review following the withdrawl of the PPORA from their December fixture, there is every opportunity that more high quality fixtures can demonstrate Barbury's ability to bring out the best in a steeplechaser when we return this autumn.
Barbury is a centre of excellence, whether it's from horses trained by Alan and Neil King on the Barbury downland, as past results of the Cheltenham Festival show, at the Point-to-Point races, or at the upcoming horse trials. We've often remarked that Barbury attracts good quality horses, and that a winner at Barbury Races is a measure of a good horse, whatever the race. The efforts of one horse so far this summer support that theory.
Lotus Pond is a winner of four of his six starts last season, including a Conditions Race at the Barbury International in January and the Tedworth Gold Cup Mixed Open in April, under the guidance of Mickey Bowen. He wrapped up his Pointing season with a 20l victory over Iberico - another Barbury winner - in the Lady Dudley Cup at the Worcestershire in late April. As Pointers go, you couldn't want for a better horse.
But it hasn't been holiday time for Lotus Pond since. Switching to the professional game and from Mickey to Peter Bowen, Lotus Pond has been making hay in Summer jumping, justifying favouritism in 2 races 4 days apart last week. Having not won under Rules previously, Sean Bowen enjoyed an undemanding ride at Ffos Las in a 3m Handicap Chase on June 21 under a fly weight of 10st 8lb, and followed up 4 days later at Southwell in an indentical race despite rising 13lbs. Heavily eased on the run-in, there's every indication there's more to come from the Welsh Wizard with Lotus Pond.
With the Barbury fixtures under review following the withdrawl of the PPORA from their December fixture, there is every opportunity that more high quality fixtures can demonstrate Barbury's ability to bring out the best in a steeplechaser when we return this autumn.
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