David Pipe has been relatively quiet by his standards this season with 23 winners from 181 runners, but recent indicators suggest that the bar is rising as the spring approaches.
The Nicholashayne trainer was in warm form at Warwick on Saturday when the very likeable Kingston Queen showed her brand of toughness to beat White Noise three quarters of a length in the Listed James Seymour Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle and Phantomofthepoints went onto complete a Saturday double in the 2m 5f handicap hurdle.
Kingston Queen has the options of the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham or the Premier Novices’ Hurdle at Kelso on her radar and there are other stablemates with the Festival a possibility.
Probably the most exciting member of Pipe’s team, Windbeneathmywings is back in full training and looking more likely to continue on the bumper route in Ireland before he embarks on a novice hurdle career next season.
He was one of many enthusiastically discussed by David in conversation with attheraces.com's Tony Elves.