Key angles as Dallas Des Pictons bids to give Elliott hat-trick in Martin Pipe

Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle | 4yo+ | 2m4f56y | RTV

Elliott connection counts

Gordon Elliott has made a happy habit of winning the race named in honour of his mentor and is three-handed in his bid to follow up Champagne Classic in 2017 and last year's winner Blow By Blow.

Dallas Des Pictons has been a name on the lips of many on the festival preview circuit and has the assistance of last year's winning jockey Donagh Meyler.

His stamina looks assured on the basis of a success over three miles last month, while the form of his runner-up effort over two miles at Leopardstown over Christmas received a huge boost in the context of a handicap when his conqueror, City Island, landed the Grade 1 Ballymore Novices' Hurdle here on Wednesday.

Dallas Des Pictons chasing home City Island at Leopardstown, form which received a huge boost at Cheltenham on WednesdayCredit: Caroline Norris

Defi Bleu could also have enjoyed a Grade 1 boost to his form by race time should Derrinross run well in the Albert Bartlett.

The mount here of Conor Brassil, Defi Bleu chased home Derrinross in a Grade 2 at Limerick over three miles before cutting little ice at Grade 1 level at the Dublin Racing Festival.

The Elliott trio is completed by Cartwright, who has plenty of solid handicap form between two and two and a half miles and has shown he handles every variety of ground.

Elliott said: "The Martin Pipe is a race we always try to have good representation in as it's a race that means a lot to me. For the last two years I've been lucky enough to win and I think Dallas Des Pictons gives us a strong chance again. He probably would prefer a longer trip but this race tends to suit horses with plenty of stamina. He should be thereabouts.

"Defi Bleu also stays well and he's quite interesting as he's getting back on slow ground, which will suit him well. I’d ignore his last run as he was uncomfortable on the quick ground. Before that he'd run some very solid races in defeat against some classy novice hurdlers.

"On his last few runs Cartwright wouldn't strike you as having an obvious chance, but he ran respectably over a trip short of his best last time and before that would have needed his comeback run at Navan. Last season he was quite a smart novice hurdler and I think he can get back to that level over this trip on slow ground. Conditions are in his favour and he’s not one to underestimate."

O'Brien hopeful Early Doors can go two better

Early Doors arrived here 12 months ago with the profile of a novice stepping down from Graded company into handicaps and ran a huge race to be third.

Trainer Joseph O'Brien has not been afraid to return him to the top level and, although he has cut little ice when set two stiff tasks against Apple's Jade, the six-year-old now races off just a 3lb higher mark than in last year's race.

Early Doors (green cap, white star) spearheading a trio of JP McManus runners chasing winner Blow By Blow up the Cheltenham straight in the 2018 Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' HandicapCredit: Grossick Racing 07710461723

Blow By Blow showed top weight was not insurmountable in this race in 2018, while other recent winners Ibis Du Rheu and Don Poli were rated only 3lb off the best in the line-up.

O'Brien said: "I thought he ran very well last year to finish third and we're thrilled to have Jonjo [O'Neill] on board. I'd like to think he'll be there or thereabouts."

What they say

Willie Mullins, trainer of Acapella Bourgeois and Getareason
Getareason will like the ground and the trip. Liam Gilligan rides him and I give him a good each-way chance. Acapella Bourgeois was disappointing over fences last year and will be running over hurdles for the first time in almost three years. He seems in good form, but we’ll have to see how things go.

Paul Nicholls, trainer of If You Say Run
She’s probably handicapped to her limit and has it all to do.

Nigel Twiston-Davies, trainer of Mr Antolini and Kapgarry
Mr Antolini has some good form on soft ground, which is what it looks like we’ll be getting. I hope going back to Cheltenham will help Kapgarry.

Fergal O'Brien, trainer of Coolanly
Connor Brace is on and is a good lad. Coolanly disappointed last time so hopefully can make amends.

Style De Garde (pale blue silks) chases home Veneer Of Charm in last season's Boodles Juvenile Handicap at the festivalCredit: Edward Whitaker

Nicky Henderson, trainer of Style De Garde and Pym
Style De Garde was second in the Fred Winter last year and ran a great race, so we know he likes Cheltenham, and half a mile extra will help. He seems in good form. Pym is a novice but has had a bit of racing, so should have enough experience.

Alan O'Keefe, assistant to Jennie Candlish, trainer of Big Time Dancer
He won the Lanzarote and is in good form but the ground would be a concern. We've been very happy with his preparation and he's on an upward curve. He's a very straightforward horse who travels and jumps well.

Dan Skelton, trainer of Not That Fuisse
He's got a bit of nice course form and ran well last time. He won the time before and comes here in really good form, but the ground is a concern.

Tom George, trainer of Doctor Dex and Casa Tall
Doctor Dex is very talented but is still quite babyish and this will be a bit of a learning curve. He'll make a lovely chaser next season. Casa Tall ran in the Fred Winter last season, then grew a lot last summer, so we had to give him plenty of time. He's hopefully starting to find his way back and as he's crept in the bottom we thought we’d take our chance.

Venetia Williams, trainer of Burrows Park
He's sneaked into the bottom of the race and will certainly give our syndicate a real buzz – 18 members will be there with hopes and dreams intact. It’s also good to have a runner for Hugh [Nugent] to ride.

Spotlight verdict

Any number of these could be well handicapped, not least Dallas Des Pictons, who showed a good attitude to go with his stamina attributes when making a successful handicap debut over 3m at Leopardstown last month. He's high on the list for the yard that's won this for the last two years, alongside Early Doors, who ran so well in this race last year. However, useful Flat performer Daybreak Boy is wiser to the world than many of his rivals and his Clonmel win in January showed he's really getting to grips with hurdles. Willie Mullins has won this three times in recent years and has intriguing contenders in Acapella Bourgeois and Getareason. Of the home team, Big Time Dancer is in rude health but could have done without the recent rain.
Emily Weber

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