Greene returns to saddle to help Pipe dream

Rodi Greene will come out of retirement tomorrow in a bid to help Martin Pipe retain the champion jumps trainers’ title.

The 35-year-old will ride Tell The Trees in the Lan Jam Network Services Handicap Hurdle at Newton Abbot – one of six runners for Pipe in the two-and-three-quarter-mile contest.

“They were struggling for jockeys so I said I’d ride this one. These are desperate times,” said Greene.

“It would be great if I could earn some prize money and it would be super if she won but I’m not sure if I’m on the best one.”

Greene hung up his saddle after riding at Sandown Park in February having only returned to action in January after being sidelined for five months with a dislocated shoulder.

“I never relinquished my licence. It stays open until it runs out. I suppose it’s a one-off but you never know,” added Greene, who revealed that he is in-between jobs after going on a blacksmith course did not work out.

Pipe has 14 runners at Newton Abbot while his rival Paul Nicholls has just the three.

However, the evening meeting is subject to a morning inspection.

Tomorrow is the penultimate day of the National Hunt season with Pipe and Nicholls neck-and-neck in the race to be champion.

Going all out to retain his crown, Pipe has a total of 35 runners tomorrow with 11 at Sandown, six at Perth and four at Chepstow backing up his Newton Abbot team.

On the other hand, Nicholls has just 16.