Our Vic ready to roll for Pipe
The former Irish point-to-pointer looked likely to make a winning seasonal appearance when coming cruising to the last fence in Cheltenham's bonusprint.com Gold Cup only to take a crashing fall and hand victory to Monkerhostin.
The effects of that accident blighted the remainder of Our Vic's campaign as he failed to figure in two races at the backend of last season.
But with the benefits of a summer at grass under his belt, Pipe is looking forward to seeing the seven-year-old back in action in this weekend's £110,000 feature, the highlight of Cheltenham's three-day Open meeting.
"It will be a big test of course," said the 15-times champion trainer. "Everybody did very well to get him back last season but with hindsight it might have been better if we hadn't.
"It was a very serious fall, life-threatening in fact. When he came back everything was wrong. He had pulled ligaments everywhere and he was very sorry for himself.
"He just wasn't enjoying it when he ran again at Cheltenham and Aintree. Physically he seemed OK but perhaps mentally he wasn't able to cope with it.
"I haven't asked Timmy (Murphy) what he is going to ride yet and it will be up to him but I think maybe he might ride Our Vic."
Pipe was responsible for five of the 27 five-day confirmations but is likely to narrow his team down, with Windsor Boy well out of the handicap and It Takes Time and Therealbandit both holding possible alternative engagements.
Top-weight Celestial Gold is, however, a definite starter despite having been lumbered with 11st 12lb after the weights rose following the defection of Ollie Magern.
The winner of this race and the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup last season the first horse since 1980 to win both races Celestial Gold ended his campaign when seventh behind Kicking King in the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup.
"He's going to have top weight but he has been doing tremendously well at home," said Pipe. "Timmy has been down to school him and he was delighted.
"Perhaps it was the end of the season for him when he ran in the Gold Cup and hopefully that wasn't his true form. He certainly looks very well."
Pipe, who has trained 46 winners at the Open meeting since 1990 including seven apiece in 2001, 2002 and 2004 a record that has set him apart from his peers at the fixture.
He hopes to have a total of some 20 runners at this year's event, including the likes of Buena Vista, Standin Obligation and Lough Derg.
While Saturday's impressive Wincanton winners Iris Bleu and Celtic Son could also both possibly make quick reappearances.
Paddy Power Gold Cup betting:
Paddy Power: 4-1 Monkerhostin, Our Vic, 13-2 Lacdoudal, 9-1 Brooklyn Breeze, 12-1 Forget The Past, My Will, 14-1 Celestial Gold, Redemption, 16-1 Kandjar d'Allier, Le Passing, 20-1 Fondmort, Therealbandit, 25-1 bar.
