Pipe waits on Vic Festival target
Martin Pipe has still to decide on Our Vic’s Cheltenham Festival target after the eight-year-old’s impressive victory in the totesport Chase at Lingfield earlier this month.
Owned by David Johnson, the horse is a possible for both the Ryanair Chase over two miles and five furlongs and the totesport-sponsored Gold Cup over three and a quarter miles.
Pipe says that all variables will be taken into account before a final decision is made.
“I thought Our Vic did it very well at Lingfield,” he told At The Races. “He beat My Will, of course, who franked the form on Saturday with a big run in the Racing Post Chase.
“It was a two-and-a-half-mile chase in very testing ground. I was quite worried about the ground actually, but he coped with it exceptionally well because he was harried by a loose horse for most of the run-in.
“He’s won over three miles before when he won the Reynoldstown at Ascot. He was third in the SunAlliance Chase as well, so he’d have no problems with the Gold Cup trip at all.
“He’s entered in both the Ryanair and the Gold Cup and we’ll decide nearer the time depending on ground conditions and what Mr Johnson wants to do with him.”
Pipe was also pleased with the performance of Don’t Be Shy in the Game Spirit Chase on the same day, and he is on target to take his chance in the Irish Independent Arkle Trophy.
“It was a very good performance from a novice in testing ground,” the trainer continued.
“The Arkle is the race for him and I was very pleased with his jumping that day. He jumps well and stays well so he will have a good chance.”
