Pipe dreaming
GRAND National week could not have started better for David Pipe. Once one of the top six trainers, he has had a nightmare season, with just 28 winners in 11 months prior to yesterday. In most of the previous 11 campaigns he had over 100. Things have started to fall into place, though, with a 168-1 double via Miss Tynte and Time For Ben. This Saturday his nightmare will come to an end if he wins the Grand National with Vieux Lion Rouge, a 33-1 shot. “He usually lights up for the big occasion,” said Pipe. “He has run well in the last two Nationals and won’t mind the ground. It’s just that the first half of the season hasn’t really gone to plan. “We’ve beaten Blaklion and he’s beaten us, but because of the first half of the season we’ve come down a few pounds in the weights. Hopefully he will run another good race.”
Minella Rocco is at the top of the handicap with Double Ross currently occupying the final slot in the race.
Blaklion is in the mix, while other major candidates such as Tiger Roll for Gordon Elliott and the Willie Mullins-trained Total Recall are also still in.
David Thompson, successful with Party Politics in 1992, has purchased See you at midnight, trained by Sandy Thomson. William Hill have trimmed his odds from 20-1 to 16-1 following a number of bets.
Paddy Power bet: 10 Total Recall, 11 Anibale Fly, 12 Tiger Roll, Blaklion, 14 Minella Rocco, The Last Samuri, 16 See you at midnight, 20 Gold Present, Vicente, Ucello Conti, 25 The Dutchman, Pleasant Company, I Just Know, 33 Regal Encore, Alpha Des Obeaux, Vieux Lion Rouge, Gas Line Boy, Vintage Clouds, Shantou Flyer.