Pipe close to another record

Martin Pipe can edge closer to another record with a double at Chepstow today. He needs another five winners before Sunday to reach the fastest 100 in a season by a jumps trainer.

Victories by Vent d'Aout and Carlovent should ensure he remains on course to beat his own record.

Success for the former would be particularly sweet as her main rival in the Wexford Novices' Chase is Executive Decision, trained by Pipe's championship rival Paul Nicholls.

Executive Design is sure to be a popular choice as he was a comfortable winner on his chasing debut at Newton Abbot three weeks ago.

But that came against modest opposition, not good enough to test a five-year-old who has not always looked the heartiest of battlers. And he has a stiff task conceding 12lb to Vent d'Aout.

She was every bit as good a hurdler, and proved her wellbeing when defying top-weight in a handicap at Stratford early this month.

The mare jumped well when a close fourth on her debut over fences at Huntingdon last season and is expected to make a useful chaser. She can live up to her trainer's faith with a win today.

Carlovent is a confident choice for the Sport Of Kings Challenge, albeit at likely short odds.

He put up a smart performance to win the Tote Silver Trophy here and should take full advantage of the 6lb he receives from the ex-French Capitaine Leau, who makes his debut for Nicky Henderson.

But Pipe's Runaway Pete looks to have too much weight to make it a treble in the "Showcase Handicap" Tote Bookmakers Hurdle. Indeed, Tony McCoy has passed up the mount in favour of Henry Daly's Regal Absence and the hint should be taken.

Regal Absence ran a blinder on his return from an 18-month layoff in a 15-runner event at Bangor last month, going down by just a short-head to the race-fit Cassio's Boy.

That pipe-opener will have put the seven-year-old spot-on for today and he should go one place better this time.

Best bet at Hexham could be What A Fuss in the Bowey Developments Ltd Handicap Hurdle. The six-year-old made an impressive winning debut for Mick Easterby at Market Rasen.