Celestial Gold fills Pipe’s Bowl of joy

CELESTIAL GOLD gave Martin Pipe a late-season boost and ended a drought of big-race winners for the champion trainer under a beautifully-timed ride from Timmy Murphy in the Betfair Bowl at Aintree.

Pipe has had to sit and suffer a quiet year by his high standards and Celestial Gold added to a poor few months when unseating Timmy Murphy on the first circuit of the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup last month.

But never to be underestimated, Pipe struck back as Celestial Gold (8-1) capitalised on a mistake by Take The Stand at the final fence to power away and score by seven lengths.