Like Father, Like Son

It was just like old times at Sandown as legions of punters across the country sang the praises of a man named Pipe after Gaspara landed a huge gamble in the Sunderlands Imperial Cup.

Martin Pipe had plundered the two-mile handicap hurdle four times in the last decade as a trainer, each time with the favourite, but now it was the turn of his son David to line up a £75,000 bonus should his unexposed filly follow up at Cheltenham next week.

Martin was right in the thick of things too, with Gaspara carrying his colours, while their old ally Tony McCoy had slimmed down to about his minimum of 10st 5lb to take the ride.

Backed into 11-4 favourite despite racing in Britain only twice before, she had her partner in the drive position from some way out as Magnesium lit the way.

But the roars came up in the home straight as she emerged wide of the pack and while Magnesium, still in front to the second-last and eventual third, and Flying Falcon ran tremendously brave races, Gaspara sprinted away to win by six lengths.

To collect the bonus achieved by Martin in 1993 and 1998, Gaspara will have to take up one of her entries in either the Fred Winter Juvenile Novices' Hurdle or the Ballymore Properties Novices' Hurdle.

'I expect the owner will want to go,' laughed Pipe junior.

'It is great to follow in my father's footsteps. Four-year-olds do not have a great record in the race and she's not very big but she's very tough and responded well to AP.

'She's in the two races next week. We will have to have a word with the handicapper. If he puts her up 10lb, then with a penalty she is a few pounds ?well-in' for the handicap, but you get a mare's allowance in the two-mile-five race.'

Pipe's father added: 'David wanted to go for this and it's very rewarding. The trainer's not bad you know!'

Venetia Williams said of runner-up Flying Falcon: 'I'm very pleased, he's now been placed in two very good handicaps.

'I hope he will run again this season but he won't run at Cheltenham because he had to win today to get into the County Hurdle.'

Gaspara was cut from 8-1 to a general 7-2 for the Fred Winter but is still around 14s for the Ballymore.

McCoy earlier combined with Jonjo O'Neill as Albertas Run was a decisive winner of the EBF Sunderlands 'National Hunt' Novices' Handicap Hurdle Final.

Slightly easy in the market at 6-1, he was always just off the decent pace and although Double Eagle made a break for it in the home straight, Albertas Run galloped away at the second-last for a four-length success.

He looks a future chaser but O'Neill said: 'I imagine he will probably stay hurdling next season.

'He's not had many runs but he's always improving.'

McCoy was only second aboard Howrwenow in the Bet Online sunderlands.co.uk Handicap Chase as Reflected Glory (7-2) opened up some interesting options for trainer Paul Nicholls.

The pair had been well in contention at the last fence but still behind Cousin Nicky, who fell when holding every chance.

Reflected Glory snatched a decent lead at that point and kept on going up the hill for a three-and-a-half-length verdict on his first start in over a year.

'I did think he might need the run today but we might look at the Irish National now as going right-handed around Fairyhouse would suit,' revealed Nicholls.

Sam Thomas was on board as Ruby Walsh opted to sit out the chase as a precaution before Cheltenham.

The champion trainer's Hoo La Baloo later routed his field in the Grand Military Gold Cup (sponsored by BAE Systems), rescheduled from Friday's abandoned card.

The 4-5 favourite was rated pounds ahead of his rivals and by beating Cedar Chief by 13 lengths, he was extending rider Jamie Snowden's peerless record in these races.

There was relief for Nick Gifford in the Sunderlands Bookmakers Novices' Chase as his highly-rated Killaghy Castle showed he was none the worse for a recent injury.

He won as easily as possible at odds of 2-11, with the distance of three lengths not really doing him justice.

'He got a very nasty overreach at Newbury that took a long time to heal,' explained Gifford.

'I've no real plans ? he'll be entered at Aintree but Timmy Murphy says he's still green.'

Paul Webber's promising recruit Swaythe (17-2) wrapped up the Listed EBF/Doncaster Bloodstock Sales Mares Only Standard National Hunt Flat Race and may now head for a similar contest at Aintree.

A Flat cast-off from Roger Charlton, she had been aimed at this race last year before a setback and had too much speed for her rivals, running away by three and a half lengths to confirm Fakenham form with Theatre Girl.

The Sunderlands Bookmakers Comic Relief Handicap Chase saw red faces rather than noses for favourite backers as the punted-on Stan was foiled by three-quarters of a length by the Noel Chance-trained 5-1 chance Offemo Offemont (Tom Doyle).

(C) PA Sport