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David Pipe thread

Mamlook 9g Key Of Luck - Cradle Brief P Deal & G Lowe 013146/ RPR 148h OR 143h Hasn’t been out for more than two years but is in good form, showing all his old enthusiasm at home. The plan was to go for the Cesarewitch, in which he finished second back in 2009, and he’d gone nicely in a racecourse gallop at Kempton the other day, but he picked up an infection and had to miss the race. He’ll probably have a run on the Flat and then go hurdling and we’ll see what level of ability he retains. He had been chasing but is better over hurdles.

Master Overseer 10g Old Vic - Crogeen Lass Brocade Racing P1/P1P1P- RPR 146c, OR 146c Such a kind horse that I could put my two young children, Jack and Sophie, in his box at night and they’d be fine the next morning. On the track all he does is gallop and stay and he’s put together an unusual set of form figures; if the sequence is maintained he’ll win first time out. He’s 6-13 over fences but resumes off a career-high mark. I need to get him dropped a pound and he’ll be eligible for veterans’ chases again – he won one at Wincanton last season off 142. He’d be an ideal sort for the Becher Chase, although when his owners read this they’ll probably have a heart attack!

Minella Scamp 4g King’s Theatre - Forgotten Star Malcolm Denmark 1-6 RPR 98b Went well for a long way in a Chepstow bumper two Saturdays ago, but was too keen and ran with the choke out. He’ll have a quietish season; we’ll look for another bumper where the aim will be to get him to settle better.

Moncarno 3g Lucarno - Sparkling Jewel David and Elaine Long Unraced RPR - OR - The early signs are good, although he’s still some way off a run. He’s a Doncaster sale purchase, so the restricted bumper for horses purchased at that sale would be an obvious target. Should be out around December.

Most Eligible 6g Pursuit Of Love - Danzig’s Heiress Skeltools Ltd 124 RPR 114b Was good on his bumper debut, ran well next time but disappointed on his hurdling debut. He came back from a break last week and will resume in the new year. His Worcester win came on good ground, but he won’t mind it softer

My brother Sylvest - unable to c&p No Secrets 9g King’s Theatre - Happy Native Malcolm Denmark 03P/011P- RPR 134c, OR 129c He’s lightly raced, partly because it’s hard to keep condition on him. We did a lot of work on his jumping last season and he spends time in the loose school to get his confidence up. There’s nothing flashy about him but he got the job done twice in handicap chases. He was run off his feet in the Kim Muir last time, so we’ll bring him back down in grade. After just five runs over fences he could progress. Despite his wins having come on soft or heavy, he might appreciate better ground.

Notus De La Tour 7g Kutub - Ridiyla D Bradshaw, J Dale, P Deal, J Smee, W Walsh 1323F/P- RPR 150c, OR 144c Racing is such a leveller and dear old Notus – I know he’s only seven but he seems to have been around for years – hasn’t had any luck at all on his last two starts. He sustained a fracture above the eye when falling at the festival the season before last, then we got him back to Cheltenham in December for the big Grade 3 handicap chase over 2m5f when he made two terrible mistakes and injured himself. It took him a long time to recover but he’s back in good order now, so I hope he’ll give his connections some better times this winter. May start back over hurdles, then we’ll resume over fences once he gets his beloved soft ground.

Obistar 3g Astarabad - Vallee Du Luy Brocade Racing Unraced RPR - OR - Big gelding, bought at the Doncaster sales. The aim is to go for a bumper in the new year, but he’s backward at present and it’s taking time for the penny to drop. Off The Wall 6g Presenting - Ginger Bar Malcolm Denmark 333/834- RPR 112, OR 112 Strapping type, your typical 3m chaser on looks. Hasn’t so far progressed over hurdles but looking back we may have been riding him wrong, making the running when perhaps we should be taking our time with him. We’ll change tactics now he goes over fences and see if that brings about some improvement.

Our Father 7g Shantou - Rosepan The Ives & Johnson families 10P/124- RPR 154c, OR 147c Someone said to me the other day he’s in the betting for the Paddy Power Gold Cup and I told them he’s not even back with me yet. He’s still doing his pre-training with Timmy Murphy, so I hope he returns to Pond House shortly. Everyone must know he is best fresh – he’s won first time out in each of his three seasons to race – but then he seems to lose his form completely afterwards. That’s what makes his rating ridiculous; I know he does it first time but his overall profile is not that of a horse rated 147. There are twin aims with him: to extend that first-time-out sequence, over 3m-plus when the mud is flying; then second, to get him to hold on to his form a bit longer. Deserves an entry in races such as the Hennessy and Becher Chase.

Pleasant company- unable to c&p Red Sherlock This half brother to Swing Bowler did nothing wrong and is now an exciting prospect for novice hurdles. He was visually very impressive on his debut at Towcester, where it’s rare to see one finish on the bridle up the hill like he did. Despite the apparent ease of his victory, first day at school is bound to take something out of a horse, mentally and physically, so Ascot next time came up plenty quick enough, but we wanted to see if he was up to going for the festival bumper. He put up another good performance, despite winning only narrowly from The Skyfarmer, who boosted the form the other day, but it told us that Cheltenham last season was one year too soon. He’s not back yet, but Timmy Murphy reports he jumps well, so I hope he’s one of our leading hopes among the novices. I like to keep them low key to start with, although even then you bump into other good ones, before gradually stepping up in grade

Poole Master 8g Fleetwood - Juste Belle G Thompson 223F0-4 RPR 140c, OR 132c It hasn’t really happened for him yet over fences, although in fairness he was getting beat by some useful types. Was in the grip of the handicapper but has dropped a few pounds, and his latest run at Haydock was more encouraging. Capable of picking up a handicap at some point when the mud is flying.

Prideofthecastle 6g Waky Nao - Park’s Pet B Drew P1-1 RPR 111b Was bought at Cheltenham’s Brightwells sale in January after comfortably landing a Limerick bumper in very heavy ground the previous month. I wanted to give him one run before he was turned out but we were fast running out of time and when we took him to Stratford I warned the owner the track was too tight and the ground getting too quick. So all things considered he did well to get home in front, and the runner-up won next time. There’s nothing flashy about him, but when racing on a galloping track with cut in the ground, he should win his novice hurdles from 2m to 2m4f.

Problema Tic 7g Kapgarde - Atreide Jo Tracey F-05100 RPR 145c, OR 138c Something of an in-and-out performer who needs things to go his own way. Had dropped 12lb in the ratings before winning at Perth in June, then went back up 8lb to 140 and was well beaten both starts since. Has had a holiday and will be back to contest 3m handicaps when the ground is not too soft.

Punjabi 10g Komaite - Competa Raymond Tooth 90/600P- RPR 165h, OR 130 The former champion hurdler has been sent here to see if a change of scenery can freshen him up. It’s a long time since he showed his form, so it’s a big ask. He’s way off a run.
 
Qalinas 6g Malinas - Tabletiere Middleham Park Racing XX and Martin Pipe 351128- OR 112h, OR 114h A step up in trip brought about improvement in handicap hurdles last season. He’s a decent jumper of hurdles so I hope he’ll prove equally proficient now he goes over fences. Can’t have the ground soft enough, so somewhere like Ffos Las in mid-winter would be ideal. Michael Heard, one of our amateurs, gets on particularly well with him.

Ronaldo Des Mottes 8g Rifapour - Gemma K & D Ives F6/4P03- RPR 152h, OR 140h Hasn’t won for ages and not as good as he was, but his Plumpton third to Court Minstrel was a decent effort, even more so after the winner boosted the form by winning the Scottish Champion Hurdle. Could go chasing, but whichever code it is I’m aiming to get him back in the winner’s enclosure.

Salut Flo 8g Saint Des Saints - Royale Marie Allan Stennett 8112/01/ RPR 151c, OR 148c From the comfort of the sofa here I’m able to follow his every move in his box from my laptop, thanks to a new bit of kit showing all the security cameras round the yard. It’s all a bit like Big Brother. I need to keep a close eye on him after all his problems. They started in the spring of 2012 when he was working at Punchestown and cut himself so deep he took a large chunk out of his hoof. That summer he got colic so badly he needed surgery, and colic-like symptoms persisted afterwards. But he picked up, has been back here six weeks and the signs are really good as he’s showing all his old zest. The engine and the ability is still there. It’s amazing really, but then he’s always been a tough customer. We’re thinking in terms of the Paddy Power Gold Cup and will take him for a racecourse gallop beforehand. When he won the 2012 Byrne Group Plate on his last appearance he was off 137; they put him up to 148 but he should be dropped for all the time off. After everything he has been through it will be great to see him back.

Seven Nation Army 4g Rock Of Gibraltar - Crepe Ginger Roger Brookhouse 31- RPR 108b Lovely individual, whose Fontwell bumper win at the backend last April shows he acts well in the mud. He developed and matured over the summer probably as much as anything in the yard, but unfortunately sustained a nasty cut when schooling the other day. That’s going to delay his return for novice hurdling, but I hope he’ll be worth the wait.

Shaking Hands 9g Bach - Picton Lass Brocade Racing 4/0P11P- RPR 130c, OR 128c We need to place him carefully. He must have the mud, and preferably a galloping track, as they help him to organise himself; he’s not the most natural jumper and has his own way of doing things. He’s 4lb off a career-high mark and needs to up his game, but I could have said the same 12 months ago and he went and won at Towcester and Ffos Las.

Shotavodka 7g Alderbrook - Another Vodka Jane Gerard-Pearse 2/81117- RPR 139h, OR 140h Another one for the mud. On the back of three wins over hurdles he went to Aintree on a career-high but the ground was against him and he wasn’t at his best. Whereas he had a troubled preparation last season, this time it’s gone great so far and when the rains come he’ll be ready. He’ll start over hurdles but may go chasing; although not the biggest he’s a quick jumper with a very determined attitude, so should cope with fences. A stiff 2m might suit best for the time being

Sirvon unable to c&p Smiles For Miles 5g Oscar - Native Kin Prof Caroline Tisdall F/2- (pointing form) RPR - Quite athletic and one I liked at the sales. He’d looked like winning on his debut in an Irish point when falling two out, then failed by half a length to make amends six days later. Pleasing me in his work and should do well in bumpers.

Standing Ovation 6g Presenting - Glittering Star Exors of the late David Johnson P-54F1 RPR 104c, OR 101c He was put up 9lb for winning by a neck at Exeter, which looked harsh, so we didn’t have much option but to run him under a penalty at Wincanton, where he jumped so much better. At Exeter he seemed to be remembering a fall the time before and for a long way refused to pick up the bit. But fair play to Conor [O’Farell], who kept at him. Before those two wins he had been disappointing over fences and as DJ [David Johnson, late owner] used to say, he was in the short-term car park. But he’s a good work horse and I’m glad we gave him another go. He’ll face another ratings hike but he looks progressive and we might try to get him out again quickly before the ground softens.

Swing Bill 12g Grey Risk - Melodie Royale Halewood International P14406- RPR 149c, OR 140c He has a new owner in Judy Halewood, chairman of Halewood International that owns Crabbies, the new National sponsor. It’s great to have her on board; she was looking for a National runner and she has found the ideal candidate. He finished sixth in it last spring and has completed over the National fences four times in four attempts. He’s getting on in years but is still lightly raced and is showing all his usual enthusiasm, wasting no time in getting to the top of our gallop. He’ll be entered for the Becher Chase and we’ll obviously have a look at the amateur handicap at the Paddy Power meeting, in which his form figures read 211.

Swing Bowler 6m Galileo - Lady Cricket Exors of late David Johnson 111/130- RPR 139h, OR 136h She put up her one and only disappointing performance in the mares’ race at the festival over 2m4f. Perhaps we went for the wrong race at Cheltenham and should have gone for the County as a true-run 2m might suit her best. She’s a very strong-travelling mare, sometimes not finding quite as much off the bridle as you’d expect. On the evidence of her fine third in the Betfair Hurdle she could win a big handicap hurdle; we’ll also try chasing, and although not over-big she should cope with fences, at which her mother excelled. Possessing a pedigree to die for, she’ll make a smashing broodmare when the time comes.

The Darling Boy 8g Medicean - Silver Top Hat Doone Hulse 13/1232- RPR 120c, OR 112c Old-fashioned chasing type who arrived just last week. He’s back from a leg injury I believe but has some form in the book and we hope to get him back to winning ways The Liquidator One our two grade one winners last season and what I loved about him was how he improved from race to race. He put up a brilliant effort in the big festival bumper, staying on all the way up the hill, then topped that with victory at Punchestown. He’s developing physically all the time which is important as hes light framed and not over-big. Despite having a nice cruising speed he’s no more than workmanlike at home, but it’s not the quick flashy ones at Pond House who turn out to be the good ones. I haven’t discussed it with Roger but we’ll probably start off over 2m, very shortly, and I’m not afraid to go low key as a hard-held win can do wonders for a novice’s confidence. Of course I hope he’ll end up back at Cheltenham in March, but whether it’ll be over 2m or 2m5f I don’t know yet; we’ll feel our way and he’ll tell us. He looks great, is schooling away nicely and seems economical over his hurdles

The Package 10g Kayf Tara - Ardent Bride 54/14PP- RPR 148c, OR 144c Picked up a small injury during his pre-training with Timmy Murphy, so we won’t see him back until the new year. May end up going straight to the festival, like he did two years ago, and will probably be entered for the National

The Wealer Dealer- unable to c&pThomas Junior 4g Dylan Thomas - Smiling Walters Plant Hire Ltd 2- RPR 102b Big and backward, very green on his Ffos Las bumper debut in March when he got to the front too soon and half pulled himself up. It was a decent effort considering he hadn’t turned four at that point. He’s a slow learner, a bit more switched on now, which should enable him to win a bumper.

Top Gamble 5g Presenting - Zeferina Walters Plant Hire and Jean Potter 211- RPR 124h, OR - Has done nothing but progress and I have high hopes for him. He’s big, at 17hh, and when our vet first saw him he said he’d be okay in 2017, so he’s achieved an awful lot already. Hacked up in his bumper and went back to Ffos Las to make a winning hurdling debut, easily beating a horse who has since become a decent performer. Is a lot more mature this season, and while his jumping was adequate as a novice he was a lot more agile when Conor schooled him the other morning. Could reappear in the 2m5f handicap hurdle at the Paddy Power meeting and looks sure to improve further. Despite being a Presenting he has a high knee action and seems suited by cut in the ground.

Too Generous 5m Generous - Little Feat A Frost 11511- RPR 122h, OR 122h What she lacks in size she makes up for in guts and determination. Has her own way of jumping and was pretty clueless to start with, but it’s hard to crab a record of four from five. Loves the soft and is capable of being competitive off 122.
 
Top Wood 6g Kotky Bleu - Heure Bleu Lady Clarke 51/0322- RPR 130h, OR 130h I still can’t believe he failed to win last season – it was annoying he kept on going up in the ratings for getting beaten. Always shows plenty at home and I predict there’s more to come now he goes chasing.

Tullyesker Hill 4g Shantou - Couture Daisy Bryan Drew P-1 RPR - Lucky winner of an Irish point-to-point after being left in front when one fell at the last. I need to do more work with him before planning a campaign but he seems a tough individual who will appreciate a trip.

Vazaro Delafayette 4g Robin Des Champs - Etoile Du Merze Bryan Drew 1-3 RPR - OR - By a sire everyone loves, responsible for Sir Des Champs and Quevega among others. Didn’t come cheap for an English point-to-pointer but he won his only start at Larkhill very impressively. A smashing individual, he was green when running a race full of promise in a hot bumper at Cheltenham on Saturday, despite having a rough passage. He was wound up beforehand so I need to see how he comes out of it before making plans.

Vieux Lion Rouge 4g Sabiango - Indecise Prof Caroline Tisdall and John Gent 1110- RPR 127b A simply gorgeous individual, he’s a youngster with a big future. I doubt there’s many horses who win three bumpers without seeing another rival, like he did. And that was despite the trainer doing his best to get him beat by running him over 1m4f first time. I never thought the festival bumper was an ideal target, but with his profile we had little option but to give it a go. And although he was down the field the experience will have done him no harm. He’s come back looking a different horse after a summer break and, having schooled nicely, is ready to go as soon as we get a drop of rain. I’m open-minded about his trip – anything from 2m to 2m4f – but he’s very much a horse I hope to be taking back to Cheltenham in March.

Vif Argent 4g Dom Alco - Formosa Stef Stefanou 12-1320 RPR 123c, OR 130c For a four-year-old he already has masses of experience in France, showing a good level of form to win four for Guillaume Macaire – a bumper, two hurdles and a chase at Angers in February. We bought him after he finished second in a chase at Auteuil in June. He didn’t stay an extended 3m at Cheltenham on Saturday and we’ll bring him back to 2m4f next time.

Volt Face 4g Kapgarde - Jourenuit Roger Brookhouse 1- RPR 100b Comes from the family of Gloria Victis. It was a weak bumper in which he made his debut at Towcester but he couldn’t have won any more easily. Not back yet, but as he was bought at Doncaster the restricted valuable sales bumper would be an obvious target next spring.

Western Diva 4f Westerner - Duck ‘N’ Dive Roger Brookhouse 2 RPR 91b She was bought after finishing second in a Towcester bumper and will hopefully turn out good value. Hasn’t been here long so I’m still assessing her.

Western Warhorse 5g Westerner - An Banog Roger Brookhouse 1F1- RPR 119h Big brute of a horse and a bit of a character, very much your 3m soft-ground chaser of the future. He won a maiden point in Ireland in November, changed hands at the sales and was keen before winning a novice hurdle at Chepstow. As he’s still a novice to the end of October I’d like to get him out soon but we are running out of time.

Wetak 6g Antarctique - Rhapsodie Terry Neill 525-246 RPR 136c, OR 126c An interesting recruit. He was trained last season in France by Francois Cottin when running a good second to Shooters Wood in a 2m handicap chase at Cheltenham in November. It was handy the handicapper left his rating untouched. He has since run four times in France, beaten a neck in a £25,000 chase and a close fourth in the Group 2 Prix des Drags at Auteuil. Unfortunately he picked up a small injury on his final start that required surgery to take a chip out, but he’s fine now and just started back in training. Should be out in the new year and hopefully we'll have some fun with him.
 
From www.davidpipe.com
Relief, delight and huge excitement are just a few of the emotions I have experienced over the weekend! Although I did not have quite as many runners numerically as in recent weekends, two of my best young horses ran and maintained there winning records. Kings Palace put together a very taking performance to win a competitive novice hurdle at Cheltenham on Saturday. I have always thought a lot of our five year old and having won at Fontwell and then nicely at Cheltenham in October, with the form of both races being boosted there was pressure for him to enhance his reputation, and boy did he deliver! Under a great ride from Tom Scu his jumping was exemplary and he galloped on relentlessly to score in style. His odds have now shortened for the Albert Bartlett novice hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival and this will indeed be his target come March although he will have an entry in Neptune as well. He seems to have come out of the race fine and he may have one more run before Cheltenham although I would not be afraid if he did not run again before then either.

On a slightly lower key but still just as important and every bit as pleasing, I was highly delighted with Red Sherlock's hurdling debut at Southwell on Sunday. With Tom Scu standing in for injured Timmy Murphy he looked a natural over hurdles, travelled well and won on the bridle. Although it is hard to say what he may have beaten, you can only beat what is in front of you and it was a great starting point for our four year old. This extended his unbeaten career record to four from four and with some top bumper form already in the book he is very exciting. Homebred by the late David Johnson out of former useful Pond House inmate Lady Cricket he has huge potential. This was a step up in trip for his hurdle debut and his long term aim could be the Neptune novice hurdle at the Festival and he may have an entry in the Challow hurdle at Newbury before then.


Our third winner or the week since writing my last blog was actually the first. It came courtesy of another of my potential high class novice hurdle prospects, Legacy Gold. She won nicely on her hurdling debut at Uttoxeter. The runner up is a decent mare and I’m sure the form of the race will work out well. She has high class bumper form to her name and she has a natural aptitude for jumping plus the willing attitude to ensure she rates amongst the best of my top novice hurdlers. Her win was over two miles but she will get further and so there are lots of options available to her including some nice mare’s races along the way.


Reflecting on my other runners throughout the week there have been some highs and some slight disappointments as you experience most weeks when involved in our sport! Salut Flo was a little ring rusty in the big chase on Saturday. He ran well to a point but made a few mistakes along the way which ultimately cost him and Tom sensibly looked after him once his chance was gone. The best news is that he has come out of the race well and he showed enough to suggest we can have some other big days with him later this season. On Friday, there was a pleasing stable debut from The Darling Boy at Bangor. He was coming back from an injury layoff and under a good front running ride from Kieron Edgar he showed a lovely willing attitude to fight back once headed and only lost out in a photo finish. He seems fine after the run and looks like he will give his owners much fun whether it is over hurdles or fences in the coming months.
 
Red Sherlock

Pipe said: "He's come out of the race at Wetherby fine and we'll be stepping him up in grade on his next start.

"He could go to Cheltenham at the end of the month."
 
Red Sherlock is clearly one of the brightest young stars in the yard,” he said. “He will get better as he acquires further experience and could go to Cheltenham for Trials day at the end of the month.
 
The Liquidator now has a mark to get into his dads race. Last run too bad to be true or a plot ?
 
Dell' Arca and Swing Bowler booked their places in David Pipe's team for Cheltenham with excellent efforts in the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury on Saturday.

Dell' Arca finished well to take second spot in one of the toughest handicaps in the calendar, with Swing Bowler staying on to finish fifth on her first start for 11 months.

The Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle or one of the handicaps at the Festival beckon for Dell' Arca, while Swing Bowler could take on Quevega in the OLBG Mares' Hurdle or run in the County Hurdle.

"Dell' Arca proved himself a tip-top performer here, failing by only one and three-quarter lengths to concede 9lb to the winner Splash Of Ginge despite taking a knock three from home," the Nicholashayne handler told www.davidpipe.com.

"He has an entry in the Supreme Novices' hurdle at next month's Festival although he will also receive entries in all the handicaps around this sort of trip.

"Swing Bowler was making a belated seasonal debut in the big race and ran a cracker considering she had not run since last season's Cheltenham Festival. She was another to be involved in the jostling three out, but she stayed on in pleasing fashion under Conor O'Farrell, failing only narrowly to grab fourth close home.

"She had suffered a few minor niggles which had held her up, but this was a very good effort and she will probably now go for the mares' race or the County Hurdle at Cheltenham. She didn't appear to get home last year, but she is stronger this time around and the manner in which she finished at Newbury would suggest that she should get the trip this time around."

Pipe has added Edmund Kean to his Festival squad after his triumph at Ludlow.

"While it was only a three runner contest, I was very pleased by the success of Edmund Kean in the three-mile novices' chase at Ludlow on Wednesday," he said.

"According to official figures he had to improve to concede weight to the useful The Romford Pele and he did just that. Jumping well in the main (if a little left), he was more fluent than his nearest rival and did enough to hold on having appeared to put the race to bed early in the straight.

"His sound jumping will continue to stand him in good stead over fences and he could still go to the Cheltenham Festival where at present he has entries in the RSA Chase and amateur riders' National Hunt Chase over four miles."
 
"I thought Rathvinden would take a lot of beating, but Red Sherlock put up a good performance," added Pipe, who was talking on The Morning Line.

"We were getting 3lb, from Rathvinden, but it was still a good performance and I think we won with a bit in hand.

"Kings Palace had three quick races [before Christmas] so we decided to give him a break. He went for a gallop at Exeter the other week and went nicely - he's in good form."

Pipe, who said just one winner at Cheltenham would be "fantastic", thinks Dynaste has a great chance in the Ryanair Chase and confirmed Gevrey Chambertin on course for the RSA Chase.
 
We've now been joined by @davidpiperacing for his live Q&A. Get involved by tweeting us your questions using #RPQA & follow on our timeline

@RacingPost @DavidPipeRacing #RPQA Buddy Bolero seems to be the forgotten horse after his 4th last year, what race are you leaning towards?
I'm not sure if he will definitely go there. If he did it would be for the Pertemps or Kim Muir. Still rated fairly high & would need soft

@RacingPost @DavidPipeRacing When will Dan Breen be running next? Looks a well handicapped horse to me. #RPQA
Hope you’re right! He will be out in a month or so when there's better ground as he's been running on soft which is not ideal for him #RPQA

@RacingPost @DavidPipeRacing Red Sherlock looked well on Saturday,how as he been since last run? #RPQA
He’s in good form. Not a very good work horse at home but we know him and he's pleasing us. All set for the Neptune at #CheltFest #RPQA

@RacingPost @DavidPipeRacing what's your favourite racecourse and why? #RPQA
There are loads of great courses but my favourite has to be Cheltenham. It's the ultimate place to win & everyone wants to win there #RPQA

@RacingPost @DavidPipeRacing #RPQA is balgarry still in training with you david?
Yes he is. Unfortunately he suffered a bit of a freak injury to his jaw but he should be back for a full season next season #RPQA

@RacingPost #RPQA What race at the festival are you leaning towards with Vieux Lion Rouge?
He wont go for the Neptune & it will be one of the handicaps. He'll be left in all at the 5 day stage. It's best to leave it late as..... you often see horses fall by the wayside and the complexion of the race can change completely #RPQA
 
Kings Palace
Classy Hurdler Kings Palace Set to go Novice Chasing for Pipe
There is also a good crop of younger horses at Pond House at the moment and Pipe will be hoping that one or two of them can make up into top class performers this season. Chief among those are Red Sherlock and Kings Palace who both made an impression as novice hurdlers last season but both disappointed at Cheltenham when well fancied.

Red Sherlock ran below his best form to finish 9th in the Neptune last March after an unbeaten career to that point and he has plenty of options ahead of him, although he remains with Timmy Murphy in pre-training and is unlikely to be seen in the first part of the campaign. It was a similar story for Kings Palace who fell at the last in the Albert Bartlett at the Festival when beaten after a great run of form and a change of discipline is now in his future according to the trainer.

"Kings Palace is back in and in good order, he didn’t run his race at Cheltenham but he has had a nice break and hopefully we can get him back to top form." Pipe was happy to confirm. "He will probably go novice chasing this season, he has strengthened up well and has plenty of size, chasing is what we bought him for."

Kings Palace is currently a 20/1 shot with Paddy Power to win the RSA Chase in March and around 16/1 for the JLT Novice Chase which may appeal to some as he goes chasing. Another Pipe horse who could well turn to fences at some point soon is the exciting Un Temps Pour Tout who also got special mention during our chat with Pipe. He showed plenty of promise winning at Ascot last February before running a blinder with plenty of weight on his back at the Punchestown Festival and he is likely to be tested over further this winter.

"Un Temps Pour Tout has had a good summer and we may well step him up to three miles at some point and there may be further improvement," The handler said. "At some point he will jump fences but we will start off over hurdles and we will see what happens."

One or two bookmakers have Un Temps Pour Tout in their World Hurdle market at the moment but with chasing an option, caution should be exercised by punters backing him for that contest. The same can be said of Dell 'Arca who was a key player last season over hurdles and he too could have chasing on the agenda at some point although he will also start his season over hurdles according to Pipe. Dell'Arca won the Greatwood Hurdle at Cheltenham last November before performing well in the Betfair Hurdle, the Coral Cup and the Mersey Novices Hurdle to mark himself out as a big earner for Pond House ensuring he is one to watch this winter.

There is plenty of other big races on the agenda for the Pipe team this season away from Cheltenham including a certain contest in Liverpool next spring. The Grand National win for 2008 remains the "career highlight so far" for David Pipe and he will be hoping that Goulanes can repeat the success of Comply Or Die at Aintree in April. Goulanes won the Midlands National last year and according to Pipe the 8-year-old has the "right credentials" to perform well in the Grand National if fit and well.

There are also a whole team of horses who could go to war in Handicap Company this season for Pipe who, behind the stars of the yard, will be just as important in the context of the campaign. He has any number of horses to watch in this sphere but when pushed for one to watch, Pipe did mention a horse new to them this summer who could be a classy animal.

"We have got a new horse called Easter Meteor who was with Emma Lavelle and he is a nice horse," He said. "He is off 148 already so it’s going to be tough for him but we are pleased with what he has done so far."
 
David Pipe intends to give Un Temps Pour Tout his seasonal debut in the Cleeve Hurdle

and rules Red Sherlock out for the season.:(
 
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