Dynaste swoops to conquer in Ryanair
This was a superb feat of training by Pipe, proving an apple never falls far from a tree, with the grey cutting down the opposition in the straight.
The eight-year-old was given a magnificent drive by Tom Scudamore, enjoying his second success of the week.
Hidden Cyclone ran a blinder for Shark Hanlon and Andrew McNamara.
He took a marginal advantage over five out and turned for home apparently full of running and with a decent enough lead.
But it a fair way up on this track and his stride began to shorten heading to the last. By now Dynaste was in full flow and, once at the back of the obstacle, surged ahead to beat his gallant rival, who kept plugging on to keep second place.
A year ago Dynaste was expected to win the Jewson, but was beaten into second by Benefficient. He certainly reversed those placings in no uncertain fashion.
“That's definitely made up for last year,” exclaimed Scudamore.
“I came here 12 months ago thinking he was a certainty, but there's no such thing at the festival.
“He didn't disgrace himself, but I don't think did himself justice that day. I was able to bide my time today and he jumped really well.
“The only point where I thought they had got away from me was the third last, where he made a little mistake.
“He's just a very good horse, I just have to point him in the right direction and hold on tight.
“David told me to ride him with balls and I have just waited and waited. I was able to challenge late and get the job done.''
Pipe said: “I thought hidden Cyclone had nicked a couple of lengths on us, but Tom crept back and rode the race exactly as we'd planned.
“He took a long time to come right after Kempton, he was off for three or four weeks.
“He pulled muscles behind his quarters, so we didn't have time to get a run into him. But we did a lot with the horse at home, he takes a fair bit of work to get fit.”
Nicky Henderson provided both the third and fourth, with Hunt Ball filling the latter position.
The trainer is now looking towards Aintree with Hunt Ball, who is owned by Atlantic Equine.
He said: “We could have run in the handicap, but to have third and fourth has made everyone very happy.
“To pardon a pun, the American owners have had a ball as Barry got off and said he should go for the National, but I don’t want them to get too excited yet.”
Scudamore completed a double later in the afternoon, a victory which took his total for the week to three, and he is now co-leader with Ruby Walsh and Barry Geraghty in the battle to be leading jockey at the meeting.
