Pipe Cheltenham Fesitival
Runners.Gold Cup Plans and Review of Pipes Cheltenham
Hopes.
An
article by Skybet
Grands
Crus: No decision yet on Cheltenham target - Sky Bet
David
Pipe continues to give very little away about the likely
Cheltenham Festival target for the dashing grey Grands
Crus.
The
trainer continues to weigh up the options of the novice
either sticking to his own experience division in the RSA
Chase, or to go for the ultimate shot at glory in the
Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Pipe
played his best poker face when he was questioned more
deeply at a media open morning on Tuesday and maintains
he will continue to monitor the situation.
"We
will decide nearer the time," he said.
"We
have to see what's in the races and look at ground
conditions and everything else.
"Horses
do miss Cheltenham for various reasons, not that we want
that to happen, and that will make an impact on which
race he runs in.
"I'm
just keeping an open mind and we'll all sit down and have
a chat. I'm sure a decision won't be made until seven to
10 days before the race, and we've still got until the
five-day declaration stage.
"It's
not that we're not telling people - we're keeping our
options open - and if anyone wants to back him, they
should back him 'with a run' for either race."
Grands
Crus shook up the incredible Big Buck's in the last
Ladbrokes World Hurdle and his progress has continued
unabated over fences with three consecutive wins at
Cheltenham, Newbury and in the Feltham Novices' Chase at
Kempton.
And
Pipe says any decision will not be affected by the death
of Gloria Victis, an immensely promising novice of his
father Martin's, who died when pitched straight into the
2000 Gold Cup.
"I
remember Gloria Victis, and it was a sad day as he was a
very talented horse," he went on.
"But
you have to treat every horse as an individual and make a
decision on that."
But
on the flip-side, he added: "Is Grands Crus going to
be fit and well next year? Is he going to be sound? There
are pros and cons and we'll decide nearer the time."
He
went on: "We have to decide if he's ready for it and
look at the opposition. Those are two things.
"Can
he travel at the pace of the Gold Cup? I would say yes.
"Can
he jump at the pace of the Gold Cup? I'd say that's the
only issue.
"He
has jumped well and was impressive at Kempton. That's
what we're looking into."
Meanwhile
Grand National favourite Junior remains a Cheltenham Gold
Cup possible, with Pipe revealing that his eighth place
at Newbury on Friday has "blown the cobwebs
away". The Grimthorpe Chase at Doncaster a week on
Saturday is also under consideration.
Other
plans
Pipe
also had updates on several of his other Cheltenham
Festival contenders, and revealed that The Package is on
target for the JLT Speciality Chase.
Salut
Flo is one Pipe is looking forward to, the trainer says
he has lot of ability and is versatile in trip. He's
entered in nearly every handicap. Our Father meanwhile is
in the Coral Cup, the Pertemps Final and the World
Hurdle, but a handicap is the likely route.
Pipe
runs Dynaste in the World Hurdle and admits it is
"almost impossible" to beat the mighty Big
Buck's. But he says his charge - who gave the Paul
Nicholls superstar a run for his money at Prestbury Park
recently - will try.
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