DAVID PIPE hopes to follow in his father’s footsteps by capturing the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham on Saturday.

There were joyous scenes in the winner’s enclosure after Al Eile’s victory in the Commhoist Logistics Champion Hurdle Trial at Haydock, the highlight of a Timmy Murphy 98-1 four-timer.

Martin Pipe extended his lead over Paul Nicholls in an enthralling penultimate afternoon to the jump trainers’ championship after the two suffered mixed fortunes today.

MARTIN PIPE and his jockey Jamie Moore have decided not to appeal against the decision by the Jockey Club’s disciplinary panel to punish them over the running and riding of Celtic Son at Exeter last October.

CHAMPION owner David Johnson is “thrilled to bits” that Timmy Murphy will be able to ride Therealbandit in Sunday’s Stan James King George VI Chase at Kempton.

MARTIN PIPE holds a strong hand in the bonusprint.com Gold Cup at Cheltenham on Saturday after leaving five horses in the showpiece handicap at yesterday’s five-day confirmation stage.

Mayo received a boost ahead of the county's All-Ireland football final on Sunday, as Achill Island teenager Conal McNamara claimed silver in this evening's T13 400m final in Athens.

Alan King, Martin Pipe and Nigel Twiston-Davies shared the training honours on the New Year’s Day card at Cheltenham by notching doubles.

Dual winner Cyfor Malta heads a team of four left in the Paddy Power Gold Cup by Martin Pipe at today’s confirmation stage as he attempts to land the Cheltenham showpiece for the fourth successive year.

Ante-post favourite Fortune Island has made the line-up for tomorrow’s Tote Chester Cup, which has attracted a maximum field of 18.