David Pipe: 'Adagio must up his game for a Champion Hurdle, but you never know'

David Pipe believes star hurdler Adagio is "back on song" ahead of his Champion Hurdle mission next month, with the Grade 1 winner set for his crucial Cheltenham Festival prep run in the Kingwell Hurdle (3.20) at Wincanton on Saturday.

The five-year-old was one of Britain's leading juvenile hurdlers last season following victory in the Finale at Chepstow before he finished runner-up in the Triumph Hurdle and at the Grand National meeting.

However, he has only been seen once this season when filling second spot under 11st 12lb in the Greatwood Hurdle at Cheltenham in November.

A pulled muscle meant Adagio missed an intended run in the International Hurdle back at Prestbury Park the following month, as well as other key targets, but Pipe is raring to go once again with his stable star, who is the 15-8 second favourite behind Goshen for the Grade 2.

"He's in good order after his setback. He only pulled a muscle, but he's back on song now," Pipe said.

"We wanted to get a run into him before the Champion Hurdle and it was either this or the Betfair Hurdle last weekend, but we felt that the smaller field would help him on his return. We're really looking forward to it.

"He did extremely well last year and backed that up with another very good run for the first time at Cheltenham this season in the Greatwood, which has had some very strong form lines."

Adagio (right): ran a stormer off top weight in the Greatwood on his only run this seasonCredit: Alan Crowhurst / Getty Images

Adagio finished ahead of the subsequent Betfair Hurdle winner Glory And Fortune and the classy Tritonic when shouldering top weight in the Greatwood, and will bid to become only the third five-year-old to win the Champion Hurdle this century alongside Katchit (2008) and Espoir D'Allen (2019).

Despite the daunting task, Pipe is confident his horse can be a leading contender to dethrone Honeysuckle, despite being a general 16-1 shot, and follow in his father Martin's footsteps, who won the race twice during his illustrious training career.

"He's always been a quick horse, but it probably wasn't until he won the Finale that he proved he warranted to be in top-class races like the Triumph, where he ran a stormer," he added.

"Obviously he has to up his game again for a Champion Hurdle, but you never know with these types and what progression they have. We hope for a good showing then onwards on the road to Cheltenham."

Kingwell Hurdle entries and betting

Bristol back at happy hunting ground

Another jumping star on show on Saturday will be Bristol De Mai, who will bid for a remarkable sixth win at Haydock in the William Hill Grand National Trial (2.40).

The three-time Betfair Chase hero returned to form when second in the inaugural Fleur De Lys Chase at Lingfield last month and will drop back into handicap company off top weight for the 3m4½f marathon contest rather than the Rendlesham Hurdle on the same card.

Bristol De Mai: steps back into handicap company for the Grand National Trial at HaydockCredit: Getty Images / Pool

Trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies said: "He's fine and at this stage he'll probably be going for the chase [the Grand National Trial] over the hurdle race. I don't know if there's any doubt about the meeting with the storms coming, but he'll run anyway if it's on.

"It hasn't been a target for him this season until very recently, but it's a nice race and we all know how well he thrives at the track."

Grand National Trial entries and betting

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