Expert view to help in your quest for a final festival winner in the Martin Pipe

Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle | 2m4½f, 4yo+ | New course | RTV

Ending the festival with a 0-145 conditional jockeys' handicap hurdle might seem like Cheltenham's way of ensuring that bookmakers leave with money in their satchels and a yen to come back next year.

But stopping weight allowances means that mainly the most experienced claimers tend to be used nowadays and form choices Early Doors and Dallas Des Pictons fought out the finish last year.

The runner-up was one of five Gigginstown horses to have been placed in a race they have also won four times in its 11 runnings, so their Column Of Fire is an obvious starting point.

He was a good third in a big field at Leopardstown last month and is joined by the lightly raced The Bosses Oscar and Everybreathyoutake in a potent team for dual recent winner Gordon Elliott who "likes to try to win" this race named after his former boss.

That said, Joseph O'Brien foiled him last year and has booked winning rider Jonjo O'Neill jnr again 12 months on for Front View, who looked a smart horse in the making when landing a bumper at Punchestown last year and is better than the bare form of his second place in a Grade 3 novice hurdle at Thurles last month.

Hat-trick-seeking novice Pileon and dual Galway winner Ilikedwayurthinking are others whose chance has not been missed by the layers and those looking – or needing – to end the week with a winner at longer odds could do worse than consider Espoir De Romay, whose trainer Kim Bailey did so well here on Tuesday.

His impressive Wincanton winner looks a useful horse in the making and is ridden by the capable Chester Williams, who has plenty of big-race experience.

What they say

Paul Webber, trainer of Indefatigable
She always runs well at this track and Dame De Compagnie, who she gave weight to when second at Cheltenham in December, boosted the form this week. She’s a big price and if she was trained by a more sensible trainer she’d be a lot shorter!

Gordon Elliott, trainer of Column Of Fire, The Bosses Oscar and Everybreathyoutake
Column Of Fire pleased us in high-class handicap at Leopardstown last time. He's long looked an ideal type for this race and should be there or thereabouts. The Bosses Oscar is a nice horse, but short on experience. I do think he has more to offer over hurdles. He certainly copes with soft ground and won't be far away. Everybreathyoutake did really well on good ground during the summer. He's a lovely, staying novice chaser in the making but would prefer drier ground.

Kim Bailey, trainer of Happygolucky and Espoir De Romay
Happygolucky has solid Graded form. We trained him for the Coral Cup but he missed out by two and this was his back-up race. I’m very happy with him, as I am with Espoir De Romay and they’re evenly matched. He won well at Wincanton and the form has been franked by the runner-up. He’s a huge horse and a chaser in the making.

Charles Byrnes, trainer of Doctor Duffy
I’d have been more hopeful if the ground had dried out a bit more throughout the week. We’ll take our chance but the ground is a worry.

Nicky Henderson, trainer of Mill Green
It was too short for him in the Betfair Hurdle last time and this trip is more suitable. On his previous form at Sandown he'd have a squeak

David Pipe, trainer of Umbrigado
He’s better than he’s shown and wears a tongue strap and cheekpieces for the first time. He travels well but has not been finding as much as you would hope so hopefully that will help and the step up in trip will suit.

David Pipe: trying to win the race named after his father Martin for the first time with UmbrigadoCredit: Harry Trump

Gavin Cromwell, trainer of Ilikedwayurthinkin
He's in great order. This is a lot more competitive than the races he won at Galway but hopefully he's in there with a solid each-way chance. I suppose coming here he would have been one of my better chances of a winner but I don't think he's overpriced now.

Paul Nicholls, trainer of Ecco and Cliffs Of Dover
Ecco will run really well and I’ve always thought this race would suit him. He wants two and a half miles so it should be ideal for him. Cliffs Of Dover hasn’t run for a long time and is very fit, but potentially could be a bit rusty after such a long time off.

Dan Skelton, trainer of Flash The Steel
This has been the plan all season. He was good when he won the Silver Trophy at Chepstow and I’ve been very pleased with his preparation.

Philip Hobbs, trainer of Pileon
We don't how good he is yet. He ran a fantastic race at Cheltenham earlier this season when he was green and he's won two ordinary races easily since but this will tell us more.

Jamie Snowden, trainer of Thomas Macdonagh
His wind went in the River Don so we’ve had that done and he arrives fresh. He was progressive with three wins before that and he’s on a mark he can be competitive off. If it stays soft he has an each-way squeak.

Spotlight verdict

Gordon Elliott won this in 2017 and 2018 and saddled the second and third last year, and among his runners this time he has likely types in Column Of Fire, The Bosses Oscar and Escaria Ten. Willie Mullins has won three of the last nine runnings and his Five O'Clock is respected, while Front View was second to that rival last time and could go well for last year's winning team of Joseph O'Brien, Jonjo O'Neill Jr and JP McManus. However, this can go to Flash The Steel, who failed to stay 3m at Haydock last time out in November and retains potential now he's back down in distance. Umbrigado was another non-stayer in the same race and is feared most, for David Pipe whose father features in the race title. Espoir De Romay and Pileon
Ben Hutton

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