Liquidator has Challow option

Trainer David Pipe has raised the possibility of his smart prospect The Liquidator running at Newbury in the Betfred Mobile Sports Challow Novices' Hurdle on December 28.

A classy bumper performer last season, he finished fourth at Cheltenham before taking a Grade One at the Punchestown Festival, he has made a perfect start to his new career.

He outclassed his opponents at Carlisle on his hurdling debut before winning a small-field Grade Two event at Cheltenham by 15 lengths and would be stepping up in trip for the Newbury Grade One.

Pipe told The Times: "He's going to be entered in the Neptune as well as the Supreme and he will definitely get the longer trip.

"It's possible we might run him in the Challow Hurdle at Newbury after Christmas."

Pipe has admitted the current crop of novice hurdlers at his Pond House yard are the most exciting since he took over the licence.

Kings Palace, Red Sherlock and Legacy Gold all won last week and join The Liquidator as possibles for his Cheltenham Festival squad.

To date the most impressive has been Kings Palace, already favourite for the Albert Bartlett in March and Pipe would not be concerned if he did not run again before the big day.

Writing on his blog on www.davidpipe.com he said: "Kings Palace put together a very taking performance to win a competitive novice hurdle at Cheltenham on Saturday.

"His odds have now shortened for the Albert Bartlett at the Cheltenham Festival and this will indeed be his target come March although he will have an entry in Neptune as well.

"He seems to have come out of the race fine and he may have one more run before Cheltenham although I would not be afraid if he did not run again before then either.

"On a slightly lower key but still just as important and every bit as pleasing, I was highly delighted with Red Sherlock's hurdling debut at Southwell on Sunday.

"Although it is hard to say what he may have beaten, you can only beat what is in front of you and it was a great starting point for our four year old. This extended his unbeaten career record to four from four and with some top bumper form already in the book he is very exciting.

"Homebred by the late David Johnson out of former useful Pond House inmate Lady Cricket, he has huge potential.

"This was a step up in trip for his hurdle debut and his long term aim could be the Neptune at the Festival and he may have an entry in the Challow Hurdle at Newbury before then.

"Legacy Gold won nicely on her hurdling debut at Uttoxeter. The runner up is a decent mare and I'm sure the form of the race will work out well. She has high class bumper form to her name and she has a natural aptitude for jumping plus the willing attitude to ensure she rates amongst the best of my top novice hurdlers.

"Her win was over two miles but she will get further and so there are lots of options available to her including some nice mares races along the way."