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Pipe Could Be Double-Handed in Paddy Power Imperial Cup
09/03/10

Last season was something of a blip for David Pipe as it was the first time since he took over from father Martin that he failed to win the 70,000 Paddy Power Imperial Cup and the Nicholashayne trainer will be aiming to correct this anomaly in this Saturday’s renewal with either Salut Flo and/or Hunterview.

Salut Flo, 6-1 favourite with the sponsors for the last big race before Cheltenham, was a fine performer in France before making a winning British debut at Doncaster on Friday.

Hunterview, who has been installed at 8-1 with Paddy Power, was a useful horse on the flat for Michael Jarvis and got his head in front at the third time of asking over hurdles when mastering Riskareas by a neck on January 28.

Pipe said, “Salut Flo won over fences last time and is probably more likely to run in a chase than the Paddy Power Imperial Cup but I want to keep our options open.”

“He’s won on very soft ground but handled the quicker surface last time at Doncaster, although the trip at Sandown could be a little bit short for him.”

“Hunterview won last time out at Warwick and will go for the Fred Winter Juvenile Hurdle at Cheltenham and we may go for the Paddy Power Imperial Cup as well.”

“He goes on any ground and the two mile trip at Sandown won’t be a problem for him.”

Hunterview is a 10-1 chance with Paddy for the Fred Winter, while Salut Flo is a 10-1 shot for the Jewson Novices’ Handicap Chase and 14-1 for the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Chase with the universe’s friendliest bookie.

A win for either horse will allow them to have a crack at a £75,000 bonus from Paddy Power to the connections of the winner of this race should the same horse go on to win any race at the 2010 Festival Meeting at Cheltenham from March 16th-19th, 2010. This will be distributed as follows: £50,000 to the winning owner, £15,000 to the winning trainer and £10,000 to the winning stable.

So far David and his father Martin are the only trainers to have pulled off the Paddy Power Imperial Cup-Festival race double, scooping the additional pot in the process. Martin managed it twice courtesy of Olympian (1993) and Blowing Wind five years’ later. The former went on to win the Coral Cup, while Blowing Wind landed the Vincent O’Brien County Hurdle.

David emulated his dad in 2007 with Gaspara, who later was an easy five length winner of the Fred Winter Juvenile Novices’ Handicap Hurdle in the colours of a certain Mr M C Pipe!

In 2008 he again won the Paddy Power Imperial Cup with Ashkazar, who was three and a half lengths too powerful for Fredensborg under an inspired Timmy Murphy ride, but the winner was unable to cope with Crack Away Jack in the Fred Winter in which he went down by two and a half lengths.
Paddy Power said, “David may not have won the Paddy Power Imperial Cup last year but Seven Is My Number still finished second. The Pipes have a brilliant record in the race and both his entries looks sure to be extremely popular with punters.”

Paddy Power Imperial Cup

Paddy Power bets: 6 Salut Flo, 7 Pepe Simo, Bellvano, Qaspal, 8 Hunterview, Sway, Eradicate, 12 Mohayer, Oldrik, 14 Aather, Caravel, Fairyland, 16 Pascha Bere, Tocca Ferro, Wade Farm Billy, Tender Falcon, 20 Stradbrook, Keki Buku, Chaninbar, Numide, Mon Michel, Pistolet Noir, Press The Button, 22 Helium, 25 Callisto Moon, Dani’s Girl, Kanad, Cool Touch, Katies Tuitor, El Dancer, Tilt, Treaty Flyer, Cheshire Prince, Quartano, Dontpaytheferryman, 33 Border Castle, Son Of Flicka, Beau Fighter, Sambalando, 50 War Party