Pipe dreams of Cheltenham glory

The staying steeplechaser – a leading contender for next month’s Randox Health Grand National at Aintree – has been excelling over smaller obstacles this season where he still qualifies as a novice.

Although beaten on his sole start over fences this season, Ramses De Teillee – who runs in the colours of former Ryanair Chase winner Dynaste – backed up his victory at Cheltenham under Tom Scudamore with Grade Two wins at Doncaster and Haydock.

Pipe said: “We were always going to take advantage of his novice hurdle status at some point, but we could never have dreamt it would have worked out this well.

“We tweaked his wind after he was beaten over fences and he seemed to come back an even better horse, as they were good performances at Haydock and Doncaster.

“He doesn’t mind the big occasion, he jumps and stays well and he is rated 151 which puts him in the top five novice hurdlers, so that tells you he must have a chance.

“The only negative would be if it dries up during the week, as though he goes on better ground, he is better on soft ground. However, he has lots of positives.”

Pipe is confident a repeat performance of Israel Champ’s Listed success at Ascot can see him involved in the Weatherbys Champion Bumper which the stable previously won with Moon Racer.

He said: “He is in good form and we know he handles the track. He won’t mind the hustle and bustle of the race and on the Wednesday, the ground should still be softer.

“He came with a nice reputation, but being in the Champion Bumper is a real bonus. He was giving a nice horse of Jonjo’s (O’Neill) weight at Ascot and if he runs like that again, that should put him thereabouts.”

Pipe will also be represented in the Grade One prize by impressive Market Rasen scorer Panic Attack, following her switch from Willie Mullins’s yard after being purchased by owner Bryan Drew.

He added: “The plan is to go to Cheltenham, she has settled in nicely and done some nice work on the gallops. She gets a four-year-old and fillies’ allowance, so she will be getting 15lb off Israel Champ, which is a big pull.

“She was very impressive on soft ground at Market Rasen, but I think if the ground dried out it would suit her better. She travelled so well through her last race and you need to do that at Cheltenham.”

Meanwhile, Nico de Boinville believes Altior has every chance of landing a third successive Queen Mother Champion Chase, equallying the record that Yorkshire’s Badsworth Boy set in the 1980s for the Dickinson family.

Having seen his unbeaten record over jumps ended by Cyrname at Ascot in November, the Patricia Pugh-owned 10-year-old returned to winning ways in the Game Spirit Chase at Newbury last month.

De Boinville said: “Altior’s season has been well documented in the press. What he did last time was show signs of his old self returning.

“The way he put it to bed in the end was typical Altior. People expect him to be winning these races by huge distances, but he never actually does.

“He is the champion and you become that by doing what he does all the time.”

Former Grand National-winning jockey Ryan Mania’s comeback continues to gather pace after partnering the Sandy Thomson-trained Stradivarius Davis to novice chase success at Catterick.

The meeting saw Niven win a two-mile chase for local trainer Phil Kirby and jockey Tommy Dowson who was recording his 24th win of the campaign – a new personal best for the jockey who has made a smooth transition to the senior ranks after losing his claim.

And Jonathan Burke, who partners Summerville Boy in next week’s Stayers’ Hurdle at Cheltenham, was a narrow winner of the mares’ hurdle with Zoutoise for trainer Tom George.