Lough Derg retired Trainer David Pipe has decided to retire Lough Derg following the 11-year-old's disappointing run at Ascot earlier this month. Lough Derg, one of Pipe's stable stalwarts, was pulled up by jockey Tom Scudamore in the Coral Hurdle and connections have decided to call it a day. On his website www.davidpipe.com, Pipe said: "Our ever popular staying hurdler Lough Derg ("Douglas") has run his last race. Having run an encouraging race on his comeback at Exeter, his outing at Ascot last Saturday told us that it was time for retirement after an amazing career that spanned eight years, sixty-one races and twelve trademark gutsy victories. "Having spoken with owner William Frewen, Tom and Charlotte Scudamore, as well as Leanne who would ride him everyday at home, it was unanimously decided that the time was right for a happy and thoroughly well deserved end to his racing career. "Lough Derg has been such an incredible servant through the years for both me and my father before me and he is very much like the family pet. "We always insisted that he would be retired when he didn't seem to be enjoying racing any longer, and while it was a sad decision to make, Lough Derg owes us nothing and it is our duty to do what is right for him." Lough Derg won 12 of his 61 races over jumps, amassing £374,512 in prize money, with his biggest success coming in the Grade 1 Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot in 2007.
