Few people enjoyed the Cheltenham Festival as much as David Pipe this year as he saddled three winners. The shock victory of Western Warhorse was followed by victories for Dynaste (Ryanair) and Ballynagour (Byrne Group Plate).
Most form pundits reckoned Pipe’s best chances of a festival winner lay with his novice hurdlers but hopefully they will have other days. The show moves on to Aintree this week and Dynaste is ready to step back up in distance for the Betfred Bowl. Normally this might be a concern for a Ryanair winner but not in this case.
Had the King George VI Chase gone to plan, Dynaste would almost certainly have lined up for the Cheltenham Gold Cup this year. He had finished in front of Silviniaco Conti and Bobs Worth in the Betfair Chase at Haydock and is already a three-mile winner at Liverpool. To my eyes, he looked flat out for much of the way at Cheltenham over two and a half miles and will be much more at home over the longer trip.
Last year, Dynaste made amends for his defeat at the festival by winning the Mildmay decisively. The forecast is varied but the going should not be any worse than good to soft and that will suit the grey. Silviniaco Conti didn’t do a lot wrong in the Gold Cup but had to settle for fourth place in a scrambling finish. He ran at this fixture last year and put in a lifeless performance and I’d be a bit cautious again this season.
You do get the occasional shock result at this meeting with the hard race at Cheltenham taking its toll on some of the leading fancies. I don’t think that will apply to the main protagonists here as they have had a very light campaign. The 5-2 about Dynaste looks worth a bet.
Our ante-post book for the Grand National on Saturday suffered a minor setback with Godsmejudge pulled out by Alan King. I feared the worst when he was pulled up on his last start but he may be back in time for the Scottish equivalent. I wouldn’t mind a bit of rain for any of our remaining wagers, although the 25-1 about Teaforthree looks the most eye-catching. I’m still quite keen on Big Shu, although he would definitely appreciate some rain by the weekend.
Dynaste (Betfred Bowl) at 5-2 Skybet, Bet Victor
