Main Fact completes magnificent seven-timer with Greatwood Hurdle on horizon

The ultra well-handicapped Main Fact continued his incredible form by landing a seven-timer at Catterick on Tuesday, and trainer David Pipe says he could go in search of an eighth win on the trot at Newmarket on Friday.

The rapidly improving seven-year-old won five times over hurdles between January and March this year, raising his mark to 147 in the process, before returning with a dominant win on the Flat at Newbury last Friday.

On a mark 80lb lower than his hurdles rating, Main Fact went off the 1-3 favourite at Catterick and, despite being detached from the field early on, sauntered to the front under Ben Curtis to record an 11-length victory for the Munrowd's Partnership.

Pipe, who paid £6,000 for Main Fact in May 2018, said: "He's a very quirky individual but a well-bred one. He's talented and just seems to enjoy our routine.

"We knew if he could translate his hurdles form on to the Flat he'd look thrown in, and although it doesn't always work out that way we're delighted it has this time."

Main Fact won twice over hurdles for previous trainer Dianne Sayer but was absent from the track for 600 days before running under Pipe's name for the first time.

He returned with a third-place finish at Exeter over hurdles in December of last year and hasn't been beaten since. He is entered for another 2m handicap at Newmarket on Friday, after which Pipe is plotting a return to hurdling.

"He has an entry at Newmarket on Friday and we’ll see what happens with that," he said. "He’s entered in the Greatwood Hurdle after that and may go to Cheltenham then. For most of his owners this is a first-time ownership so they’re absolutely living the dream."

Main Fact may have had favourite backers sweating a little when slow out of the stalls and spending the first half of the race well adrift of the leaders, but Pipe was never worried.

"That's just how he starts his races," Pipe said. "They went out very quick and once he was he was able to tag onto the last couple he started going really well on the soft ground."

Watch: Main Fact complete a seventh straight success at Catterick

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