Pipe glee at 1-2-3

David Pipe reached a personal milestone as he sent out Wise Owl, Ocean Pride and Dada Cup to come home first, second and third in division one of the Somerset Community Foundation Maiden Hurdle at Taunton.

His father Martin achieved the feat on several occasions during an illustrious career, including when saddling the first four past the post in the 1992 Welsh National – with his quartet headed by Run For Free.

Thankfully for Taunton punters, the correct horse came out on top with Tony McCoy guiding the 2-5 favourite Wise Owl to a one-length success from the Andrew Glassonbury-ridden runner-up Ocean Pride.

Dada Cup (33-1) was another five lengths behind under Tom Scudamore.

Pipe said: “Ocean Pride has become disappointing on the Flat so we have sent him over hurdles.

“Dada Cup is a lovely big horse and has jumped well first time out.

“Wise Owl would have been the number one but Tony said the ground out there is soft enough and he wouldn’t appreciate that.”

Tom O’Brien, who partnered the unplaced Farmer’s Lad, was suspended for one day (February 19) for careless riding.

The Pond House team were denied a quick follow-up success as Rowlands Dream found plenty on the run-in to take the Joe Dinham Memorial Beginners’ Chase by three and a half lengths from Pipe’s Nobody Tells Me.

The 9-2 shot, ridden by Timmy Murphy, built on a promising run last time out to see off McCoy’s mount, who did not help his cause with a series of mistakes.

Winning trainer Robert Alner said: “She is well related. She is a half-sister to Ground Ball and Mr Pointment, who are both good horses, so she will go to stud at the end of the season.

“She is a lovely mare and has won races over hurdles and over fences now.”

Sam Thomas was responsible for a short-priced double which was completed when 5-4 favourite Gustavo coasted home by eight lengths in the S.I.S Handicap Hurdle.

The Venetia Williams-trained six-year-old was returning from a year off the track when scoring at Folkestone last week, and proved a cut above with his 7lb penalty.

Thomas’ double was initiated when a drop in class for I’m Lovin It (30-100f) proved a winning tonic as the seven-year-old landed the Wally Norman Memorial Selling Hurdle by five lengths.

Ron Hodges’ good run of form continues as Cantabilly (7-2) took division two of the maiden hurdle.

Daryl Jacob went well clear on the four-year-old turning in and his mount kept galloping in resolute fashion to score by two and a half lengths from Shambar.

Jacob and Alner made it two winners apiece as Even More put in a clean round of jumping to claim the Grange And Stables Business Parks Handicap Chase.

While his rivals blundered their way round, the 5-2 favourite was out of trouble at the head of affairs and reversed form with Wizard Of Edge, who had beaten him into second last week.

Alner added: “He is on form, which is why we ran him again after last week.”

Paul Keane ended an 89-day losing streak as Topless got the better of a thrilling tussle with Elbdoubleu in the stamina-sapping Trull Mares’ Only Handicap Hurdle.

Although the two horses got close on the run-in, Keane’s 20-1 chance survived a subsequent stewards’ inquiry and kept the race.