Pipe team in dominant form

Goulanes and Dream Esteem missed the cut for two races at the Cheltenham Festival but gained some compensation for connections when winning their alternative engagements at Newbury for the David Pipe team.

Given who the trainer was, it was odd that the winning Irish pointer Goulanes was chalked up at 20-1 before staying on strongly up the stands rail in the Better Prices On Betfair Mobile Maiden Hurdle.

Pipe said: “I’m surprised about his price. He’s not the quickest, but he keeps galloping. We were going to run him in the Albert Bartlett but he was balloted out, and he’s a three-mile chaser in the making.”

Dream Esteem (9-2), who has been running respectably without getting her head in front this season, also carried the Roger Brookhouse colours to victory in the Betfair Don‘t Settle For Less Handicap Hurdle.

She repelled a pair from Nicky Henderson’s stable, with Gibb River well supported after a breathing operation and smart chaser Petit Robin coming back from injury.

Pipe went on: “It looked a tight race and that was a career best. She was balloted out of the County Hurdle and we’ll have a think about options like Aintree, the Scottish Champion Hurdle and the Swinton.”

Pipe bagged a hat-trick when Midnight Tuesday (6-1) collected the Betfair Bring You Better Value ‘Hands And Heels’ Novices’ Handicap Hurdle.

Paul Nicholls was as taken aback as Pipe by the price of one of his winners, No Loose Change, but for the opposite reason. The strapping gelding had been placed in three minor hurdles before unseating three weeks ago, but went off 13-8 favourite for the Betfair Grassroots Raceday Novices’ Handicap Chase.

The layers were not far off the mark as he coasted 29 lengths clear under Ruby Walsh, but Nicholls said: “It wasn’t like he was a winner waiting to happen last time, so I’m surprised he was so short. He can be a bit careful over his fences and I’d like to find another small race somewhere.”

Velator (7-2 joint-favourite) made it three wins in just over a month when taking the bull by the horns in the Betfair Sponsors The Stable Staff Canteen Handicap Hurdle. Rachael Green, jockey and partner of trainer Anthony Honeyball, said: “He’ll be a chaser in time, but I think he’ll go to Aintree next for a three-mile handicap hurdle.”