Wins provide Pipe with welcome headache
Torphichen and Ronaldo Des Mottes entered David Pipe's Cheltenham Festival calculations with encouraging wins at Sandown today.
The trainer was not forthcoming about specific targets but confirmed both of the four-year-olds to be bound for Gloucestershire in March.
The Facilitas Group Juvenile Novices' Hurdle, landed last season by Fred Winter winner Crack Away Jack, offered Torphichen a decent opportunity to retain his unbeaten record.
As 4-6 favourite, he pulled a convincing three and three-quarter lengths clear of Trenchant.
Torphichen was providing Tony McCoy with his 3,001st jumping winner after the jockey achieved the phenomenal milestone at Plumpton on Monday.
Pipe's charge has the JCB Triumph Hurdle and the williamhill.com Supreme as possibilities, with Paddy Power and totesport reporting significant money for the latter race.
"I will have to talk to his owner Thomas Barr first," said Pipe.
"It is good he likes cut in the ground - some Flat horses don't.
"AP thought there wouldn't be much pace on and so he sat up front and he quickened up nicely in the home straight."
Ronaldo Des Mottes (3-1) was following in the hoofprints of the classy Punchestowns 12 months ago by winning the Facilitas Ensure Novices' Hurdle.
Although his winning margin of a length was not as visually impressive as Torphichen, he was noticeably green in the closing stages and had to be kidded home by Timmy Murphy.
"He is not the biggest, but he held his own and has improved on his Folkestone win (his British debut)," reported Pipe, who was then asked about Cheltenham.
"I don't see why not," He replied.
"The dream is still alive, but we will have to see closer to the time.
"It's a big jigsaw and just a matter of fitting all the pieces in."
An immediate boost to the form came when Silk Affair (9-2), who was second to Ronaldo Des Mottes at Folkestone, came with a blistering run up the final hill to take a competitive Facilitas TES Novices' Handicap Hurdle.
Noel Quinlan, assistant to his trainer and brother, Mick, explained: "She was beaten two and a quarter lengths that day but gave away 10 and we thought the handicapper had been very fair.
"She's a lovely mare and if it's bottomless she'll go for the Fred Winter at Cheltenham.
"If it's good, she'll go for the Martin Pipe conditional jockeys' race."
Barry Keniry, who finished sixth aboard Troque, was given a one-day careless riding ban (February 27).
The main race from a spectators' point of view was the 126th running of the Royal Artillery Gold Cup.
Owner-trainer Donald McCain was allowed to enter Bannister Lane in the military race as he served a stint in the forces.
The 5-4 favourite, clearly the best on form, was ridden sensibly by Captain Tim Edwards to come home 20 lengths clear.
Edwards, who is the son of former trainer, John, said: "I am 31 on Saturday so this is some birthday present.
"I have ridden in the race four times, coming second, third and fourth.
"For it to be my first winner under Rules is brilliant.
"He was 15lb or 20lb better than the rest on ratings and the race went to suit."
A spirited frontrunning turn from Appleaday (3-1) saw Paul Webber's grey lift the Facilitas Property Services Handicap Chase.
McCoy loomed as an obvious danger aboard 5-4 favourite Supreme Keano but consistent errors eventually took their toll.
"The Kim Muir was the plot and we needed to go up a few pounds to get in so I will try to get the best amateur rider I can," said Webber.
"That said, I don't want to disturb Dominic Elsworth's partnership with him so the Midlands National might be another race."
Old stager Royal Auclair (11-8 favourite) was another not to jump particularly well but he still crept up on the line to get off to a good start to his new career in the TBSC Hunters' Chase.
