Gamble horse lands follow-up success
The three-year-old (7-2) made all in the European Breeders Fund ‘Junior’ Standard Open NH Flat Race to beat favourite Giovanna by a long-looking nine lengths.
The ex-French gelding is trained by permit holder Helen Bridges, whose horses are ridden by her daughter Lucy, the long-term partner of Martin Pipe’s son, David.
Backers of There Is No Doubt landed a spectacular gamble at the Devon track when he was backed down from an opening 28-1 on-course to 5-2 favourite at the off.
It transpired the horse had been sold by Pipe to Mrs Bridges a few weeks earlier, and its name had subsequently been changed via Weatherbys.
Although no rules are thought to have been broken, the champion trainer is set to be interviewed by Jockey Club security staff, as is Dorset-based Mrs Bridges, who remains nonplussed by recent press attention.
“It was an incredible win (at Exeter) and I’ll never ever forget being accosted by reporters at the other end over what had happened.
“I hadn’t a clue,” she said.
“Martin chose this horse for me but I could have sent him back if I’d wanted to.”
Asked how the publicity had affected her, she added: “At one point I never wanted to see another horse or another racecourse.
“But life has to go on - it is a storm in a teacup.”
Earlier on the card, Pipe’s former number one jockey Tony McCoy bagged a double in the first two races through Good Judgement in the first division of the McCann Homes Novices’ Hurdle and Campaign Trail in the skynet.co.uk Internet Services Beginners’ Chase, both for his new boss Jonjo O’Neill.
“Luckily the horses are starting to run a bit better now and hopefully we can have plenty of winners,” said McCoy, who is 1-7 to retain his jockeys’ title with Ladbrokes.
