Pipe waits with Atterbury

Martin Pipe is delaying making a decision on the participation of Martell Cognac Grand National third Lord Atterbury in Saturday’s Betfred Gold Cup, for which the sponsors make him 6-1 joint favourite with Shardam.

A total of 23 entries remain in the feature £150,000 (€226,000) contest, known most famously as the Whitbread Gold Cup but sponsored this year for the first time by bookmaker Fred Done.

“We were really delighted with him at Aintree. However, he did have quite a hard race,” Pipe said yesterday. “We are likely to make a decision on Thursday.”

Of the eight possible runners for the Pipe stable, four at least could be in the final line-up.

Stormez, Puntal, Iznogoud and Bounce Back are all intended starters, while plans for the other quartet are expected to become clearer nearer to the race.

Early Grand National casualty Shardam, who has been well supported in the betting, is also set to take his chance, according to his trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies.

He said: “Things didn’t quite work out for him in the Grand National, but he seems very well in himself and has taken Aintree in his stride.

“I see there has been support for him but the money certainly isn’t mine, although I would say I have always had the Betfred race in mind for him.

“Carl (Llewellyn) schooled him the other day and I was very pleased with that. I don’t think it’s as strong a race as they have had in recent years, so I am hoping for a big run.”