Remarkable Pipe The Open Maestro

Martin Pipe once again showed he is the man for Cheltenham by taking the #110,000 Paddy Power Gold Cup for an eighth time - one of his five winners over the three days of the Open meeting.

The 15-times champion trainer had made no secret of his confidence behind Our Vic, with punters taking the hint and making him a major gamble.

Our Vic duly obliged giving Pipe his fifth win in this prestigious contest in six years.

And on a day when Pipe saddled another two well-backed favourites to hammer the bookmakers - both owned like Our Vic by David Johnson and ridden by Timmy Murphy - the seven-year-old was roared back into the winner´s enclosure.

A horse of considerable promise two seasons ago, Our Vic´s 2004/5 campaign started badly when taking a crashing fall at the final fence at Cheltenham last December.

Nursed back to the racecourse after returning to Pipe´s yard with a number of minor injuries, his two subsequent outings failed to show much promise either as the gelding was pulled up on both occasions.

Pipe, whose late father was an on-course layer in the West Country, said: 'I think a few people here have had a few quid on and that´s brilliant.

'It´s a long time since I tipped a winner with the form figures ´FPP´ and I think a lot of people must have been wondering if I was losing my marbles.

'All the pressure was on us today but the horse didn´t know that and Timmy was brilliant.'

The winner held front rank throughout before taking a clear lead at the third-last.

He kept all challengers at bay and stormed up the hill to beat the staying-on Monkerhostin, whose chance had appeared over when making a bad blunder at the fifth fence, by two and a half lengths.

Like all the riders, Murphy had a problem with some of the fences due to the low-setting sun.

'We couldn´t see the final fence at all,' he said. 'Fortunately he jumped it well and all the credit must go to the team at Martin´s for the work that they have put into this horse.'

Not Left Yet initiated the three-timer in the Racing UK Novices´ Handicap Hurdle, while Standin Obligation provided the other leg of a 42-1 plus treble when sticking his neck out for a gutsy success in the Listed Lombard Properties Handicap Hurdle.

Pipe did not go home empty-handed on the other two days either, scoring with Getoutwhenyoucan on Friday and with Bannow Strand yesterday on a card where Jonjo O´Neill´s Lingo made a brilliant return to action after being off the track for 22 months when winning the Greatwood Handicap Hurdle.

The 5-1 shot, completing a double for O´Neill and Tony McCoy, came smoothly through the pack to lead between the last two flights.

With bookmakers slashing Lingo´s odds for the Champion Hurdle, O´Neill was asked about the six-year-old´s prospects for that contest.

'It was impressive but he only had 10st 6lb today. He is a 140 horse and you need to be 165-plus to win the Champion so there´s a long way to go,' he said.

'He should come on for the run but I´m just pleased to get him back today.'

A year on from Accordion Etoile taking the Greatwood, he emerged as clear favourite for the two-mile novices´ crown after getting the best of a thrilling finish for the Independent Newspaper Novices´ Chase.

Trainer Paul Nolan said: 'He is a very classy horse and I think there is plenty of improvement to come, particularly when the stable start to find their form a bit because things haven´t been too good recently.

'More than likely he´ll have a break now and we´ll look to bring him back in January somewhere.'

Elsewhere on Cheltenham´s Saturday card, Innox marked himself down as a leading contender for the John Smith´s Grand National by winning the Servo Computer Services Trophy Handicap Chase.

Having benefited from a recent spin over hurdles in his native France, Francois Doumen´s nine-year-old stayed on from off the pace under McCoy to take the lead after the final fence and run out a seven-length winner.

Doumen said: 'He ran a cracking race when seventh in the Grand National last year and we will now aim him at that race again.

'The Hennessy might come a bit soon with it only being two weeks away but now I know he will get in the Grand National handicap, we can sit back and relax and see where we go.'

At Wetherby, McKelvey earned a shot at the Coral Welsh National with a resounding victory in the totesport.com Handicap Chase.

Peter Bowen´s six-year-old was having only his fourth start over fences but he belied his lack of experience with a foot-perfect round of jumping under Christian Williams.

'He´s out of the same mare as Chives (second in the 2002 Welsh National), so he´s bred for the job. He jumps really well and he keeps going and he goes on any ground,' said Bowen.

Noel Meade´s Watson Lake continued his education over fences with a facile success in the Woodlands Park 100 Poplar Square Chase at Naas where top Flat jockey Johnny Murtagh was out of luck in his first three rides over hurdles.

Murtagh is still seeking his first success over jumps after being unplaced on his only mount on Sunday at Navan, the scene of Moscow Flyer´s shock defeat by Central House in the Fortria Chase.

At least another Irish favourite, the prolific-winning mare Solerina, sent her fans home happy by repeating last year´s success in the Philips Electronics Lismullen Hurdle.

? PA Sport