PIPE BIDS TO EMULATE HIS FATHER

David Pipe has three chances to enjoy a major boost ahead of the imminent arrival of the National Hunt season in Saturday's Betfred Cesarewitch at Newmarket.

Jump trainers regularly have success over the two and a quarter miles of this famous handicap, with Nicky Henderson as well as Pipe's father Martin striking on several occasions in the not too distant past.

Big Occasion was a winner for Aidan O'Brien last year and Pipe has made the interesting decision to book O'Brien's son Joseph for the mount.

William Buick is aboard the Robin Geffen-owned Beyond, seemingly the leading hope for the yard after making a winning debut for the stable at Sandown in July.

While Tasheba, a former Henderson inmate who has run over hurdles for Pipe, is the mount of Kieran O'Neill.

"Big Occasion ran an OK race (at Newmarket on his first run for the stable) and I think he'll improve for the run," said Pipe.

"We go on Saturday with a lot of weight and we would appreciate some more rain really - the softer the better for him.

"It's not going to be ideal for him but it's a big race and we've got Joseph O'Brien on board, who has won on him before. It's worth taking our chance.

"He's an out and out galloper and the quicker they go on Saturday the better.

"Beyond is still at the right end of the handicap and he won nicely for us at Sandown over a mile and six (furlongs).

"This has always been the long-term plan, he'll love the ground and he's in good form at home. Hopefully he has a good chance."

Cosimo de Medici has taken trainer Hughie Morrison by surprise but has managed to become a major contender after taking last month's Cesarewitch Trial in comfortable fashion over the course and distance.

He carries a 4lb penalty for the win.

"Everything is fine with him, he worked well on Tuesday and he's a horse who has done nothing but improve all season," said Morrison.

"We put him in the race thinking he would never get in, but then he won at Newmarket in August.

"We then thought we'd better have a go at the Cesarewitch Trial and he's somehow managed to win again.

"He's had a fantastic year already and I suppose he's got to stop improving some time. It would probably be too much to ask for him to win again, but we'll have a go and see what happens.

"He's won on soft ground and he's won on fast ground, so that shouldn't be an issue."

Tony Martin, successful with Leg Spinner in 2007, is always treated with respect by the bookmakers when he sends runners across the Irish Sea.

Buy Back Bob, formerly trained by Ger Lyons, was third on his first start for the yard over hurdles at Cork and had a pipe-opener over a mile at Gowran last month.

"Hopefully he's going there with a chance. He ran a nice race over at Cork in the summer and we gave him a spin at Gowran the other day," said Martin.

"He should come on for that run and we'll see if he gets the trip on the day. He should handle the ground all right."

Martin's compatriot Pat Phelan, who is based in Epsom, has high hopes for his runner Ermyn Lodge.

All his outings have been at Ascot this season and he was fourth at the Shergar Cup last time.

"He has had two targets all year - Royal Ascot and this race," said Phelan.

"He ran very well at Ascot (Ascot Stakes). He was second to Veiled who is favourite for Saturday and when you consider we're 25-1, I think that's value for money.

"He had a racecourse gallop at Kempton the other morning which went very well and thankfully the weights have gone up enough to allow Ian Mongan to ride.

"We haven't run since August but I was fairly confident the mark he had would get him so I kept him fresh and he's ready to go.

"It's always difficult to win a race like the Cesarewitch from the front but he nearly did it at Royal Ascot and this is two furlongs shorter, so we'll see.

"He loves fast ground - the faster the better."

Some of the community's other smaller trainers are also looking for a major prize on the Rowley Mile.

Don Cantillon has been monitoring the ground at his local course for La Estrella, who won six times in a row in low-grade contests at Southwell and was sixth at Goodwood on September 21.

"His run at Goodwood last time is best forgotten because the ground was too soft," explained Cantillon.

"The plan had been to bounce him out and sit handy but the going went against us and I didn't want to risk him being up with the pace and getting tired, so we held him up instead.

"Everything is crossed regarding the ground, because we wouldn't want it too fast. I rode the whole course on my bike with a stick and a dog - they have done their best with the watering and there is a nice grass covering."

Worcestershire trainer James Evans is represented by Ascot Stakes third Phoenix Flight.

"He has been drawn in 31 which means he will be racing wide until the right hand turn into the straight. He will have to drop in from there and hopefully get a clear run when the race hots up," he told www.hjamesevans.co.uk.

"The forecast favourite is Veiled, who beat Phoenix Flight by just under three lengths at Royal Ascot, and we now have a 5lb pull in the weights so it should be close between the two.

"However I am slightly concerned that Phoenix Flight did not run that well when last at HQ (in 2009).

"All his wins have been on flat tracks such as Newbury, Market Rasen and on the all weather at Kempton."

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