Martin Pipe warmed up for a mass assault on today's Tote Bookmakers Hurdle at Sandown with a double and two seconds at Lingfield yesterday. He ended a week without a win with victories from Gallant Taffy and Champleve.
It was Gallant Taffy who broke an unusually long blank spell for the champion trainer when taking the Heddon Novices' Handicap Hurdle on his first start for the stable. Previously a well-beaten fifth at 50 to 1, the best of the three runs he had produced this season for Lisa Williamson, he was backed down from an early 11-2 to 2-1 to beat Illuminate by three and a half lengths.
Champleve, a winner three times in novice hurdles this season, transferred his winning form to bigger obstacles with a five lengths defeat of Gipsy Geof.
The French-bred grey will now have another outing over fences before Cheltenham where the Arkle Trophy must be his favoured target.
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