Pipe keen to go to the well again

David Pipe is hoping the thaw sets in before Ascot’s big meeting on January 23.

The Nicholashayne trainer has pencilled in Well Chief for the £105,000 Victor Chandler Clarence House Chase and Lough Derg for the Montpellier Holloways Hurdle.

Well Chief is being considered for the feature race on the card after being none the worse for finishing second to Petit Robin in the Desert Orchid Chase at Kempton over Christmas.

“We are just entering him for the Victor Chandler at Ascot. That may be his next race, but it depends on how long this cold spell goes on for,” said Pipe.

“He’s probably not the force he was, but he’s still very good and he’ll go for all the conditions races.”

Lough Derg has won the corresponding race at the Ascot fixture for the last two years and is on course to attempt the hat-trick in the limited handicap.

He will be on a retrieval mission having fallen in the Long Walk at Newbury last week.

“It was very uncharacteristic of him to fall but he seems fine. He’s had physio and been under the lights,” Pipe went on.

“His next race will probably be at Ascot on January 23 for the mile and three handicap hurdle. That’s likely to be his next stop.”