Daklondike could make trip over as Pipe seeks third Saturday win in a row

David Pipe, who has had a "tough season" by his own admission, is looking to continue a successful end of term with Daklondike either at Punchestown or Sandown on Saturday.

Victory would make it three successive Saturday strikes after Mr Big Shot gave Pipe his biggest prize of the season in a Grade 3 hurdle at Aintree before his 2015 Cheltenham Festival bumper winner Moon Racer continued to lift the Pond House fortunes on Ayr's Scottish Grand National day.

Daklondike, winner of the Mandarin Handicap Chase at Newbury and the Silver Buck at Wincanton in December, will be aimed at whichever race offers the softer ground.

The six-year-old is a 12-1 chance with the sponsors for the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown, but Pipe said on Sunday: "He's also in the 3m5f chase at Punchestown next Saturday and he'll go where the ground is softest, which I imagine might be in Ireland."

Sandown was offering good ground with a GoingStick reading of 7.2 after 6.5mm of rain on Saturday night. The forecast is for occasional showers through a cooler week.

Moon Racer also has a Punchestown entry on Saturday in the Ballymore Handicap Hurdle, but Pipe added: "He's highly unlikely to go to Punchestown and that's probably it for the season with him.

"He ran well at Newbury and Cheltenham on ground that was just too soft for him and he appreciated the better ground and a step up in trip at Ayr."

Moon Racer and Tom Scudamore come back after their success at Ayr on SaturdayCredit: Grossick Racing

The nine-year-old, owned like Mr Big Shot by Caroline Tisdall, could go chasing next season.

Pipe added: "He might start over hurdles next season but could go over fences – he's nine but showed he's still got an engine.

"He's a very good horse and I'm still not sure we have seen the best of him. He has always been very talented, which makes it all the more frustrating that he's had his problems."

Pipe is down on both winners and horses from the days he had 100 winners a season, with Moon Racer bringing his jumping total to 32 this season.

Members can read the latest exclusive interviews, news analysis and comment available from 6pm daily on racingpost.com