Pipe excited by Long Walk challenge
While admitting Paul Nicholls’ superstar will be very hard to beat, the Nicholashayne trainer has vowed to make a race of it.
Dynaste has plenty to do on official ratings but he looked on the upgrade when storming to victory in a fixed brush handicap hurdle at Haydock last month.
“Looking ahead to the weekend, we confirmed Dynaste at the five-day stage for the Lough Derg Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot on Saturday and a potential clash with reigning staying hurdler Big Buck’s,” he told www.davidpipe.com.
“It is a huge ask to beat Big Buck’s, but we will be giving it our best shot - Dynaste is an improving young stayer who more than deserves his place in the line-up.
“You cannot be scared of one horse, although realistically we have it to do on official figures.”
Sparky May finished a creditable fourth behind Big Buck’s in the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury and is set to renew rivalry this weekend.
Trainer Keiran Burke said: “Hopefully she’s going to run.
“She’s come on a lot since Newbury. I think I thought she was fitter than she was that day, although I think we’re running for second.
“I want to send her over fences. I think she’ll run in the Listed race at Ascot that she won before, and then we’ll reassess.”
Daryl Jacob meanwhile is to ride Master Minded confidently when the dual Queen Mother Champion Chase winner steps up to three miles for the first time in the William Hill King George VI Chase.
He partnered the eight-year-old to victory over Somersby in the Amlin Chase at Ascot last month and is delighted to be keeping the ride at Kempton on Boxing Day.
Jacob is relishing his role as number two to trainer Paul Nicholls, with stable jockey Ruby Walsh aboard owner Clive Smith’s other runner, four-times King George hero Kauto Star.
“Obviously Ascot was a stepping-stone towards the King George,” said Jacob.
“I saw him in the yard last week and both he and Kauto Star look great so I’m looking forward to be being part of the big day.
“I’d be hopeful of beating Somersby again. As for the trip, it just depends on what the ground is going to be like.
“If it’s very dead it’s going to make it harder work for him, but I’ll just do the usual and ride him very confidently as if he does get three miles.
“If he doesn’t then he doesn’t, but I will be riding him very confidently. If he does get the trip we’ll see where we go from there.”
