Pipe in Crus control for World Hurdle
The gentle grey instantly became a major danger to Big Buck’s Ladbrokes World Hurdle title at Cheltenham next week when he demolished his rivals on Trials Day in January.
Clearly a different character altogether when asked to be competitive, he willingly posed for pictures alongside Pipe like a family pet.
“He’s pretty laid-back and doesn’t show himself off,” said Pipe as Grands Crus ambled around the family’s garden led by his work rider Gerry Supple.
“What he’s like now is what he’s like in his box and what he’s like going down to the gallops.
“But you get him on the gallops and in a race and he’s completely different. It’s like he has tunnel vision. He’s very keen and you have to look after him.”
Grands Crus is unbeaten in three starts this season and his most recent effort in the Cleeve Hurdle had his usually reserved trainer in raptures.
“He won very well at Cheltenham in November and put up a great performance a week later at Haydock,” Pipe went on.
“Then he went into Graded company and had to prove himself off level weights.
“We still fancied him that day, but the manner of his victory was pretty staggering.
“He put the race to bed in a matter of strides and after that we got very excited. He’s had a good preparation since, we gave him a break and touch wood, all is going well for next Thursday.
“Big Buck’s is still the one to beat and we have to improve a bit more but we’re young — he’s only six — and he has only had eight races in his life.
“We hope there’ll be further improvement. We’d like to see a little more rain about, but Cheltenham will make sure it’s safe ground.”
The shutters have come up considerably at Pond House Stables near Wellington in Somerset since the days of Pipe’s father Martin, very much the outsider of his profession.
Pipe showed off a handful of what is likely to be a team of around 15 for Cheltenham, with Ashkazar set to bolster his challenge for the staying hurdle crown.
An experienced seven-year-old, he won on his first attempt at the three-mile trip in handicap company at the course on New Year’s Day.
“Ashkazar has always been one of my favourites,” said Pipe.
“He’s not the easiest to predict but since we stepped him up to three miles he has improved again.
“Timmy Murphy produced him late at Cheltenham last time but he stayed very well.
“He has to improve a bit against Big Buck’s and Grands Crus but he’s a big-priced outsider.”
