David Pipe stable tours 2021–2022
Star quality
Adagio
Four-year-old gelding
Wiener Walzer (sire) – Aspidistra (dam)
Owner: Bryan Drew And Friends / Prof C Tisdall
Form figures: 21122-2
Racing Post Rating 154 (hurdles); Official Rating 147 (hurdles)
He ran a great race to finish second in the Greatwood under top weight; it would have been hard to win but he performed very well. I think it was a career-best and we’ll look at the International next. He deserves to have a go there and he likes it around Cheltenham. He did amazing last season and the strength of the four-year-olds doesn’t look too bad. We’d love to think and dream that he’ll end up Champion Hurdle class. He’s got to improve but we hope he can – he had a bit of a rushed preparation to get to Cheltenham so we hope there’s more to come.
Anglers Crag
6g Multiplex – Overyou
Derrick Mossop
1/1393-
RPR 117b
We haven’t had him that long but he had some good bumper form in Ireland. He’s had a wind op and he’ll go over hurdles this season but will develop into a lovely three-mile chaser in time. He gallops all day and looks like he’ll want soft ground.
Astigar
5g No Risk At All – Sissi De Teille
The Angove Family
22P2-
RPR 120h OR 123h
We know a lot about the family as he’s related to Ramses De Teillee. He unfortunately picked up an injury so won’t be out until the second half of the season. He’s a lovely horse, though, and there’s more to come.
Brinkley
6g Martaline – Royale Majesty
Brocade Racing
31/P110-
RPR 149h OR 148h
He might go for the Fixed Brush at Haydock on Saturday. The ground might not be soft enough for him but we could still take our chance. He loves soft ground and he’s always looked a chaser but if it went well we might have to chat to the owners as to whether it’s hurdles or fences for the rest of the season.
Bumpy Johnson
5g Imperial Monarch – Country Flora
Brocade Racing
F/1373-2
RPR 120h OR 120h
He ran well on his first start at Newbury and 2m½f on that [good] ground was probably quick enough. He’s not been a natural on the track but that was the best he’s jumped. We’ll step him up in trip and we’ll probably stick to hurdles. He’s a good work horse at home so hopefully we can eke a little more out of him.
Dell’Arca
12g Sholokov – Daisy Belle
Prof Caroline Tisdall
58-1775
RPR 154h OR 126h
He ran well at Newbury and was dropped another 1lb so I’m sure he’ll be winning soon. Once he says he’s had enough we’ll retire him but he’s full of life.
Eden Du Houx
7g Irish Wells – Maralypha
Prof Caroline Tisdall
44P58-1
RPR 133c OR 133c
I’ve run him over every trip possible but ultimately soft ground is important. He won nicely last time and the wind op appeared to help. He finished the race strongly so hopefully he can build on it. He probably wants two and a half miles.
Gericault Roque
5g Montmartre – Nijinska Delaroque
Prof Caroline Tisdall and Bryan Drew
4/2131-3
RPR 125c OR 123c
He ran okay and jumped well at Wetherby but the ground wasn’t soft enough for him. He possibly wants a step up in trip now. He strengthened up well over the summer and hopefully can have a good season.
Grangeclare Glory
6g Fame And Glory – Annies Joy
Prof Caroline Tisdall
9/43P-12
RPR 118h OR 118h
He’s started the season well and he doesn’t mind the sort of ground around at the moment. He might run at Kempton next Monday.
Heure De Gloire
4f Kapgarde – Lounoas
Mrs J P E Cunningham & G M Cunningham
12-
RPR 113h OR 120h
She just ran once last season, finishing second, and she’s had a wind op and summered well. She’s quite keen in her races and at home but is more relaxed now. We’ll start off over two miles on soft ground but she might get a bit further.
Induno
7g Flemensfirth – Vast Consumption
RA Bartlett
2/113/4-
RPR 121h OR 117h
He picked up an injury after the November meeting at Cheltenham last season. We’ll stick to hurdles at present and he’ll go to either Chepstow on Friday or Uttoxeter on Sunday.
Dark horse
Israel Champ
6g Milan – La Dariska
John White & Anne Underhill
1/6110/
RPR 133b
He picked up a tendon injury this time last season, which was frustrating, but he’s back cantering and will be out around Christmas. He had very good bumper form, particularly at Ascot when he beat Soaring Glory giving him 4lb, so he’ll be exciting going over hurdles. I’d imagine we’ll start over two miles but he could get further. He’s a beast of a horse and one we have high hopes for.
Ladykiller
5g Kamsin – Lady Jacamira
Prof Caroline Tisdall and Bryan Drew
3-
RPR 106h
He’s talented but quirky and not the easiest to train. He just ran once over hurdles and wouldn’t mind the soft ground. He’ll be out in a month.
Leoncavallo
9g Cape Cross – Nafura
ValueRacingClub.co.uk
164-32
RPR 147h OR 140h
He’s a celebrity of a horse and it was great to see him run his heart out at Ascot last time. He might be in the grip of the handicapper now but we’ll contest the big 2m handicap hurdles and give his owners plenty of fun and hopefully a good bit of prize-money. He might be out this week at Ascot or Haydock.
Little Red Lion
7g Sans Frontieres – Rever Up
Prof Caroline Tisdall
B11F1F-
RPR 120c OR 119c
I thought he looked to be going okay in the Eider before he came down. He loves the mud and stays all day. We’ve had him since he was a three-year-old and he’s been so backward, he’s only just coming to himself now. Life will get tougher but hopefully he’ll progress in those marathon races. He’s entered this week but probably wouldn’t run as he wants it softer.
Martinhal
6g Westerner – Gweedara
Mrs Lynne Maclennan
1/44110-
RPR 132h OR 133h
He had a good season and we could start him off in the Betfair Exchange Stayers’ Handicap Hurdle with Brinkley, although he’d also want softer ground. I think he’s stronger and more mature this year and gives the impression he’ll gallop all day.
Neon Moon
5g No Risk At All – Hidden Horizons
Brocade Racing
P/1461-0
RPR 116h OR 118h
He ran well for a long way at Cheltenham and showed a lot of pace early on, so we might drop him back in trip. He probably doesn’t like the ground too soft. Hopefully there’s more to come.
New Age Dawning
7g Stowaway – Captain Supreme
Brocade Racing
2/121/
RPR 130h OR 133h
He’s been off for a while but he’s about a month away. We’ll probably go straight over fences and he’s got some good form to his name. If we can keep in one piece I can see him developing into a lovely three-mile chaser.
Panic Attack
5m Canford Cliffs – Toto Corde Meo
Bryan Drew
0183-24
RPR 122h OR 121h
She picked up a nasty cut in her last race which will keep her off for a while. When she comes back it’ll be handicaps between two and a half miles and three.
Ramses De Teillee
9g Martaline – Princesse D’Orton
John White & Anne Underhill
17049-3
RPR 158c 150h OR 147c 144h
A lovely horse who tries his heart out. He had a nice race over hurdles and will be eligible for veterans’ races at the turn of the year. He’s entered at Haydock on Saturday but would want it softer.
Red Lion Lad
5g Flemensfirth – Hotline
Prof C Tisdall & Black Star
1/363-
RPR 115h OR 115h
He’s a bit big and awkward but has got ability. He’s stronger this season and had a wind op. He should develop into a nice three-mile chaser. He was a boy last season, he’s a man now.
Star quality
Remastered
8g Network – Cathodine Cayras
Brocade Racing
3/1115-3
RPR 152c 134h OR 146c 133c
He ran a cracker at Aintree, which was his prep for the Ladbrokes Trophy. We’ll need help with the weather to see him at his best, though, as he’d need soft or heavy ground to have a chance. He fits the bill for the race and it looks tailormade for him given the ground. We think he’s improved again and his hurdles run gives us confidence. We’ll enter him in the Rehearsal in case it’s softer there.
Romain De Senam
9g Saint Des Saints – Salvatrixe
Judith Wilson
64B143-
RPR 152c OR 145c
He’s been everywhere but he’s a nice Saturday horse over hurdles and fences. Most of his winning has been at two and a half miles but we’ll try going up to three. He’ll be out shortly and will also be eligible for veterans’ races.
Sexy Lot
5m Camelot – Saldennahe
Peter Garnsworthy
122211-
RPR 127h OR 127h
A lovely mare. We think there’s more to come but she picked up an injury so we won’t see her until at least the second half of the season.
Siruh Du Lac
8g Turgeon – Margerie
John White & Anne Underhill
11/PF/U-7
RPR 154c 109h OR 143c 135h
He ran okay the other day for his first run of the season. He’s in the King George and will go for those types of races but I don’t know where he’ll go next.
Thanksforthehelp
4g Martaline – Agathe Du Berlais
JP McManus
4
RPR 87b
He ran well in quite a hot bumper for the time of year. He’s a very nice horse who has strengthened up. He should be a nice novice hurdler.
Umbrigado
7g Stowaway – Dame O’Neill
John White & Anne Underhill
1116-03
RPR 151c 146h OR 146c 137c
He ran okay at Bangor on better ground and he’d probably need further on that ground. When it’s softer he’d be fine at that trip. We’ll go back over fences too.
Via Dolorosa
9g Konig Shuffle – Millie Hurley
Judith Wilson
627-314
RPR 142c OR 132c
He ran a cracker when fourth in the Grand Sefton and will have an entry in the Becher. The softer the better for him.
Vieux Lion Rouge
12g Sabiango – Indecise
Prof Caroline Tisdall & John Gent
97/510F-7
RPR 160c OR 145c
He still seems to have it at home – he’s more like a five-year-old than a 12-year-old. He ran a decent race first time out and will go for the Becher Chase.
For the future . . .
We’ve got nice juvenile hurdlers. We bought the first and second, Titian and Kolisi, from the last race at Doncaster. They handle soft ground and have a decent level of form. We also have Master Blaze and Kalzari. Kingofthewest goes nicely at home and will start off in a bumper. We’ve got Sibling, a full-sister to Talent, who was in training on the Flat but picked up a small injury.
Two for the tracker
El Paso Wood has won his last four in claimers in France and might do okay, and Red Lion Lad who has improved.
Expert view
It’s fair to say the rebuilding process at Pond House has taken a bit longer than first anticipated. When David Pipe took over from father Martin in 2006, there was little change in the steady flow of winners.
In six of his first nine seasons, Pipe recorded more than 100 victories. Since then he’s been on a six-season skid.
However, after the lows of just 33 winners in 2017-18, the yard has seen an upturn in fortune and now has an exciting string of young hurdlers and chasers to go to war with this campaign.
Top of that list might be Adagio, who ran a screamer to finish second to the well-handicapped West Cork in the Greatwood Hurdle at Cheltenham last Sunday. That performance off top weight indicated he might be able to compete at the top level over two miles this season.
Other smart hurdlers include Israel Champ, who won a couple of Listed bumpers two seasons ago and will look to pick up where he left off after a prolonged absence, and Induno, who has a similar profile.
Cheltenham could be the target for all three leading performers and it’s interesting to note that Pipe has had 72 winners at that track – third-highest, just one short of Exeter and Newton Abbot – in his career.
Along with rare trips to Ayr and Carlisle proving profitable in the last five seasons, the best of Pipe’s success has come at Chepstow (16-72, 22 per cent strike-rate, +£30.73 to £1 level stake). Watch out for his Welsh runners.