Pipe closes in on fastest century

Trainer Martin Pipe moved two steps closer to shattering his own record for the fastest century when moving onto the 97-winner mark after Better Think Again and Carlovent romped home at Chepstow yesterday.

Pipe is no stranger to creating new landmarks in his sparkling training career and looks set to better his previous best when Rainwatch won at Newbury two years ago.

He has until Sunday to rack up the necessary winners and said: "The horses have been firing well and Tony (McCoy) has been brilliant as usual, the feedback he gives us is invaluable and to beat my own record would be a feat.

"But obviously the last couple of weeks, where we've sent out 20 winners, have been down to my son David as he was at the helm when I was away on holiday," he added.

McCoy eased Better Think Again, who was making his British debut in the Chepstow `National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle after winning a bumper in Ireland, to the front in the home straight and the combination spread-eagled their rivals to gain a 14-length verdict over Brown Melody.

The winner sports the colours of Pipe's leading patron David Johnson who said: "I bought this horse myself after he won in Ireland last spring. He's a lovely horse and a real chaser in the making and, as he jumped and stayed well there, we will now see what our options are."

However, Better Think Again's task was made simpler as favourite Canasta never really got competitive and finished a well-beaten sixth. His trainer Mark Pitman later reported the five-year-old to be lame.

Carlovent and McCoy had little difficulty in bettering another ex-French horse Capitaine Leau to take the Sport of Kings Challenge Hurdle, despite jumping right in the home straight.

Towcester trainer Julian Smyth-Osborne broke the ice for the season when Arctic Fancy, third behind Hors La Loi III at the Cheltenham Festival, made a winning debut over fences in the Wexford Racecourse Novices' Chase.

The six-year-old jumped to the head of affairs five out and stayed on strongly to defy Vent D'Aout by a length and a half under Warren Marston, who was ending a barren spell stretching back for 66 rides.

Smyth-Osborne said: "We'll take it step by step with him over fences as he's the sort of horse who thrives on confidence but it would be nice to go back to Cheltenham next March for something like the Arkle Chase."