David Pipe is certainly no stranger to the big day and the Cheltenham Festival for that matter. More known for his handicap plots and staying chasers, he has a top hurdler to go to war with this season which we will get to in a second.
Before we move onto the horse in question, it is worth pointing out that he thinks Israel Champ could be a dark horse this season. The horse has been off the track 20 months or so with an injury but Pipe was quoted saying:
‘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.’
Israel Champ is currently not in the betting for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle but if he gets his career back on track over the Christmas period, he could be a short enough price for the race.
After reading the David Pipe Stable Tour, which can be found on the Racing Post website for members, there was one horse in particular that he sounded unbelievably excited about.
A winner of the Grade 1 Juvenile Hurdle at Chepstow back in January, Adagio is a high-class hurdler and could be a serious Champion Hurdle contender for David Pipe and connections this season.
The four-year-old German-bred gelding finished second in the Triumph Hurdle in March before finishing in the same position in the four-year-old hurdle at Aintree a month later.
Adagio ran a cracker on his return to action when second in the Greatwood Hurdle, just finding the well-handicapped West Cork too good on the day. He travelled into the race powerfully and connections will be delighted with that run.
‘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.’
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