Grands route depends on oppostion: Pipe tells Racing UK Podcast
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The opposition will dictate whether top novice Grands Crus lines up for the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup, David Pipe has told the Racing UK Podcast.
Asked what factor would decide the seven-year-old’s Cheltenham Festival target, the trainer replied: “The opposition.
"Anything can happen to any horse unfortunately and, as we’ve seen in Cheltenham Festivals, some do fall by the wayside, so we have to keep our options open.
"We’re looking at running him next in the Argento at the end of the month or a novice chase in February and we’ll probably decide next week. He’s in good form and all has gone well since Kempton.”
Pipe also had news of Junior, as low as 14-1 for the John Smith’s Grand National.
“The Grand National has always been the plan for Junior,” he continued. “He had a long late break, is in great form and not far off a run now. He will run after the weights come out for the Grand National.
“He has a lot of the right attributes for the race, in that he stays very well, jumps well and likes better ground, so he looks an ideal candidate. (A rating of) 153 is high enough but he is a good horse.
“He’s a bit of a character and likes to get his own way – and you have to handle him with kid gloves.”
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16 January 2012
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