Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle |
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| (Conditional Jockeys) Cheltenham 17:20 £75,000 guaranteed, 4yo plus, 2m 4f 56y, Class 2  |
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A Pai de Nom took another step forward at Newbury, delivering a smooth and authoritative success in the three-mile handicap hurdle, a contest that developed into a proper test of stamina as the heavy ground took its toll. A strong traveller by nature, his ability to see out the trip was the principal unknown beforehand, but he answered that question decisively, coping well with the searching conditions and pulling five lengths clear with something still left in reserve.
🏇 Martin Pipe backers - A PAI DE NOM up 5lbs to a mark of 129... BHA handicapper appears to have been fairly lenient there.
— Road To Cheltenham (@RoadCheltenham) February 10, 2026
👍 Will surely have a great chance in the boys race in March.pic.twitter.com/lQ8DfTk8em
That display not only underlined his staying power but added a layer of depth to his profile, suggesting a horse continuing to learn and strengthen with racing. With that in mind, he would merit consideration for the Albert Bartlett should connections choose to explore that path, even if a further step forward would be demanded at that level. By way of comparison, Thedeviluno, now second favourite after his River Don success, is rated 139p.
A Pai de Nom is also shaping up as a likely qualifier for the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle, giving his connections another viable Festival option. With stamina proven and experience steadily accumulated, he looks a horse with multiple doors opening as the spring targets come into sharper focus.
The Festival, for all its certainties, is often dictated by one variable beyond any trainer’s control: the weather. And in the case of Andashan, Chris Gordon’s gaze is fixed as much on the skies as the form book ahead of a likely bid.
The plan is largely in place, the route mapped out with the sort of steady progression that connections would have hoped for when the season began. Ground conditions, however, remain the lingering caveat.
Gordon said: “It’s 90 per cent we’ll go for the Martin Pipe with him. The only thing that worried me is if Freddie couldn’t ride in it as it would have been quite difficult to get a good conditional, but I think we’re all good.
“He’s been very progressive and we were third in a very nice race at Newbury over two miles earlier on in the season.
“We stepped him up a little bit and he was a very nice second over two-mile-two at Haydock and then we went to two and a half and he won nicely at Newbury last time, so he’s been progressive on all three of his runs.
“All I can pray for with him is a little bit of soft ground – the softer the better for him.”
👍 It'll be Martin Pipe or nothing for ZANNDABAD after he was scratched from the Turners Novices Hurdle and Cup Handicap Hurdle.pic.twitter.com/ikmCpFgaks
— Road To Cheltenham (@RoadCheltenham) March 1, 2026
Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle
£75,000 guaranteed, 4yo plus, 2m 4f 56y, Class 2
81 entries
Going: Soft
NO. FORM HORSE AGE TRAINER JOCKEY (form as of Feb 27)
1 1-3351 The Passing Wife 7 11-12 Gavin Cromwell
2 81-434 Murcia 5 11-11 W P Mullins
3 22-431 Its Bilbo 5 11-10 Henry De Bromhead
4 2-63PF Chart Topper 7 11-10 W P Mullins
5 -14389 Kateira 9 11-10 Dan Skelton
6 350-F8 Sony Bill 5 11-10 W P Mullins
7 U58513 Timeless Treaty 6 11-9 Gordon Elliott
8 9-9114 Nurse Susan 9 11-9 Dan Skelton
9 11-156 Give It To Me Oj 5 11-9 Gary & Josh Moore
10 20-128 Minella Rescue 8 11-8 Gary Hanmer
11 833495 Franciscan Rock 9 11-8 M F Morris
12 117-20 Air Of Entitlement 7 11-8 Henry De Bromhead
13 0-4742 Sa Fureur 9 11-7 Gordon Elliott
14 224-73 Forty Coats 7 11-7 Henry De Bromhead
15 201P24 Farfromnowhere 8 11-7 Paul Nolan
16 131-21 Indeevar Bleu 8 11-7 Olly Murphy
17 -43412 I Started A Joke 7 11-7 C Byrnes
18 -46464 Karl Des Tourelles 6 11-7 Philip Fenton
19 0-110F Zillow 6 11-7 W P Mullins
20 -3F415 Phantomofthepoints 8 11-6 David Pipe
21 26-211 Zanndabad 7 11-6 A J Martin
22 128-55 Kel Histoire 6 11-6 W P Mullins
23 PP-501 Fiercely Proud 7 11-6 Ben Pauling
24 1-FP92 East India Express 7 11-6 Nicky Henderson
25 9-FP33 Da Capo Glory 9 11-6 Padraig Butler
26 7P-P6P Olympic Man 9 11-5 John C McConnell
27 5246F1 Grimaud 6 11-5 Gordon Elliott
28 3-1334 Intellotto 6 11-4 Daisy Hitchins
29 7-4348 Act Of Authority 8 11-4 Olly Murphy
30 223155 Frankie John 6 11-4 Denis Gerard Hogan
31 33-213 Bowmore 8 11-3 Charlie Longsdon
32 123111 Cousin Kate 5 11-3 Denis Gerard Hogan
33 3-745P Wendrock 5 11-3 Gordon Elliott
34 42142 Open Secret 5 11-2 Gordon Elliott
35 162113 Stede Bonnet 5 11-2 Gordon Elliott
36 -6311P Champagne Kid 7 11-2 P E Collins
37 43121- Jump Allen 7 11-2 W P Mullins
38 15-321 Andashan 6 11-2 Chris Gordon
39 111432 Ballykinlar 7 11-1 Mickey Bowen
40 984531 Saint Le Fort 6 11-1 Philip Fenton
41 1-1410 Idy Wood 8 11-1 Jamie Snowden
42 1/70-5 Best Years Yet 7 11-0 Martin Brassil
43 723-22 Roc Dino 5 11-0 W P Mullins
44 P0/030 Sonigino 9 10-13 Paul Nicholls
45 10-2FP Charlus 5 10-13 Dan Skelton
46 4-6241 Hot Fuss 5 10-13 Tom Dascombe
47 1222-3 La Pinsonniere 6 10-13 Nicky Henderson
48 6-P056 Jazzy Matty 7 10-13 Cian Collins
49 640-75 Might I 10 10-12 Faye Bramley
50 85-700 Sainte Lucie 5 10-12 W P Mullins
51 -13226 Stream Of Stars 11 10-12 Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies
52 -33233 He Can't Dance 6 10-12 Gordon Elliott
53 5-1544 Glynn Brae 6 10-12 Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies
54 644341 Coyote Spirit 8 10-12 Gordon Elliott
55 15284P Intosomethinggood 5 10-12 Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies
56 121131 A Pai De Nom 6 10-12 Dan Skelton
57 21-157 Lanesborough 7 10-11 Ben Pauling
58 0-4317 Listentoyourheart 7 10-11 Dan Skelton
59 -31126 Spectacularsunrise 6 10-11 Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies
60 -41212 John Barbour 7 10-11 Fergal O'Brien
61 26-387 Lisnagar Fortune 8 10-10 John C McConnell
62 112P-F The Kemble Brewery 7 10-10 Kim Bailey & Mat Nicholls
63 330-16 Lavender Hill Mob 5 10-10 James Owen
64 -23252 Newbrook Diamond 6 10-10 Gordon Elliott
65 2116U3 De Temps En Temps 7 10-9 Martin Keighley
66 15-132 Thisistheway 7 10-9 Yvonne Latta
67 21-325 Siog Geal 7 10-9 Fergal O'Brien
68 421122 Turndlightsdownlow 6 10-8 Martin Keighley
69 151-34 Kalium 6 10-8 Tim Vaughan
70 200567 Moon d'Orange 8 10-8 John C McConnell
71 0-1347 Spirits Bay 8 10-7 Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies
72 3-2216 The Nagger Reidy 7 10-7 Stephen Gerard Carey
73 -15522 Jack Hyde 8 10-7 Fergal O'Brien
74 0719P2 Embittered 12 10-6 Syd Hosie
75 0-0U24 Hamsiyann 6 10-6 A J Martin
76 -6782U Dedicated Hero 7 10-6 Sandy Thomson
77 0P0905 No Ordinary Joe 10 10-6 Faye Bramley
78 551144 Fasol 7 10-5 Paul Nicholls
79 9-047P Rubber Ball 6 10-3 Neil King
80 761300 Jacovec Cavern 7 10-0 Paul Hennessy
81 1-U112 Kazansky 6 - Gordon Elliott
Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle Previous Results
Year Winner Age/Wt Jockey Trainer Owner SP Ran
2025 Wodhooh 5 11-8 Danny Gilligan Gordon Elliott The Sundowners Partnership 9/2 24
2024 Better Days Ahead 6 11-07 Danny Gilligan Gordon Elliott Bective Stud 5/1 21
2023 Iroko 5 11-05 Aidan Kelly Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero John P McManus 6/1 21
2022 Banbridge 6 11-03 M M McDonagh Joseph O'Brien R A Bartlett 12/1 23
2021 Galopin Des Champs 5 11-09 Sean O'Keeffe W P Mullins Mrs Audrey Turley 8/1 22
2020 Indefatigable 7-11-09 Rex Dingle Paul Webber Philip Rocher 25/1 23
2019 Early Doors 6-11-10 Jonjo O’Neill Jr Joseph O’Brien IRE J P McManus 5/1 24
2018-WINNER-BLOW BY BLOW 7-11-10 Owner-Gigginstown House Stud; Trainer-Gordon Elliott IRE; Jockey-Donagh Meyler; SP-11/1
2ND-Discorama 5-11-02 Owner-Andrew Gemmell & Thomas Friel; Trainer-Paul Nolan IRE; Jockey-Dylan Robinson; SP-33/1
3RD-Early Doors 5-11-08 Owner-J P McManus; Trainer-Joseph O’Brien IRE; Jockey-J J Slevin; SP-9/1
4TH-Sire Du Berlais 6-11-10 Owner-J P McManus; Trainer-Gordon Elliott IRE; Jockey-Donal McInerney; SP-10/1
23 ran, Time-5m 22.20s; Dist-5, 1¼, 1¼ 13/2 Fav Flawless Escape (12th)
2017-WINNER-CHAMPAGNE CLASSIC 6-11-03 Owner-Gigginstown House Stud; Trainer-Gordon Elliott IRE; Jockey-J J Slevin; SP-12/1
2ND-Verni 8-11-00 Owner-Paul & Clare Rooney; Trainer-Philip Hobbs; Jockey-Thomas Cheeseman; SP-25/1
3RD-Runfordave 5-11-05 Owner-Pat Sloan; Trainer-Gordon Elliott IRE; Jockey-Donagh Meyler; SP-9/1
4TH-Coo Star Sivola 5-11-03 Owner-Babbit Racing; Trainer-Nick Williams; Jockey-Lizzie Kelly; SP-13/2
23 ran, Time-4m 55.90s; Dist-2¼, 1¼, ½ 9/2 Fav Battleford (8th)
2016-WINNER-IBIS DU RHEU 5-11-07 Owner-John Hales; Trainer-Paul Nicholls; Jockey-Jack Sherwood; SP-14/1
2ND-Flying Angel 5-11-06 Owner-R J Renton; Trainer-Nigel Twiston-Davies; Jockey-Ryan Hatch; SP-8/1
3RD-Sky Khan 7-11-03 Owner-The Ormello Way; Trainer-Lucinda Russell; Jockey-Derek Fox; SP-50/1
4TH-Tully East 6-11-08 Owner-Barry Connell; Trainer-Alan Fleming IRE; Jockey-Shane Shortall; SP-50/1
24 ran, Time-4m 51.70s; Dist-1¼, 1¼, 6 9/4 Fav Squouateur (7th)
2015-WINNER-KILLULTAGH VIC 6-11-01 Owner-Rose Boyd/B Anderson/Mrs M Armstrong; Trainer-Willie Mullins IRE; Jockey-Luke
Dempsey; SP-7/1
2ND-Noble Endeavour 6-11-06 Owner-Chris Jones; Trainer-Gordon Elliott IRE; Jockey-Kevin Sexton; SP-14/1
3RD-Roi Des Francs 6-11-05 Owner-Gigginstown House Stud; Trainer-Willie Mullins IRE; Jockey-David Mullins; SP-3/1 Fav
4TH-Kauto Grand Mogol 7-11-01 Owner-J C Delamere/D McCorkell/H Catherwood; Trainer-Liz Doyle IRE; Jockey-Jody McGarvey; SP-33/1
21 ran, Time-5m 3.10s; Dist-hd, 4½, 6
2014-WINNER-DON POLI 5-11-05 Owner-Gigginstown House Stud; Trainer-Willie Mullins IRE; Jockey-Mikey Fogarty; SP-12/1
2ND-Thomas Crapper 7-10-05 Owner-apis.uk.com; Trainer-Robin Dickin; Jockey-Joseph Palmowski; SP-10/1
3RD-Caid Du Berlais 5-11-05 Owner-Donlon, Doyle, MacDonald & C Barber; Trainer-Paul Nicholls; Jockey-Harry Derham; SP-9/1
4TH-Urbain De Sivola 6-10-06 Owner-Chris Giles; Trainer-Paul Nicholls; Jockey-Andrias Guerin; SP-33/1
24 ran, Time-4m 48.58s, Dist-4½, 1¼, 1¾ 9/2 Fav Full Shift (11th)
2013-WINNER-SALUBRIOUS 6-11-05 Owner-The Johnson & Stewart Families; Trainer-Paul Nicholls; Jockey-Harry Derham; SP-16/1
2ND-Nagpur 7-11-00 Owner-Miss S Douglas-Pennant; Trainer-Venetia Williams; Jockey-Tom Cannon; SP-33/1
3RD-Double Ross 7-11-06 Owner-Options O Syndicate; Trainer-Nigel Twiston-Davies; Jockey-Adam Wedge; SP-14/1
4TH-Make Your Mark 6-10-08 Owner-Gigginstown House Stud; Trainer-Willie Mullins IRE; Jockey-Declan Lavery; SP-8/1
23 ran, Time-5m 18.60s, Dist-7, 1, 3¾ 9/4 Fav Gevrey Chambertin (PU)
2012-WINNER-ATTAGLANCE 6-11-03 Owner-H Young, G Eifert, R Snyder; Trainer-Malcolm Jefferson; Jockey-Harry Haynes; SP-20/1
2ND-Toner D’Oudairies 5-11-01 Owner-Gigginstown House Stud; Trainer-Gordon Elliott IRE; Jockey-Keith Donoghue; SP-7/1
3RD-Oscar Nominee 5-10-13 Owner-Michael Buckley; Trainer-Nicky Henderson; Jockey-David Bass; SP-10/1
4TH-Make A Track 6-10-12 Owner-Gigginstown House Stud; Trainer-Charlie Swan IRE; Jockey-Ben Dalton
24 ran, Time-4m 51.6s, Dist-nk, nk, 1½ 9/2 Fav Bourne (9th)
2011-WINNER-SIR DES CHAMPS 5-11-03 Owner-Gigginstown House Stud; Trainer-Willie Mullins IRE; Jocket-Emmet Mullins; SP-9/2 Fav
2ND-Son Of Flicka 7-11-06 Owner-Twenty Four Seven Recruitment; Trainer-Donald McCain; Jockey-Henry Brooke; SP-28/1
3RD-First Point 8-11-07 Owner-The Third Pheasant Inn Partnership; Trainer-Nicky Henderson; Jockey-David Bass; SP-20/1
4TH-Indian Daudaie 4-11-03 Owner-Timeform Betfair Racing Club & Clive Smith; Trainer-Paul Nicholls; Jockey- James Cowley; SP-25/1
23 ran, Time-4m 55.22s; Dist- ½, 2, 4
2010-WINNER-PAUSE AND CLAUSE 6-11-10 Owner-Robert Cohen; Trainer-Emma Lavelle; Jockey-Johnny Farrelly; SP-14/1
2ND-Radium 5-11-04 Owner-Simon Munir; Trainer-Nicky Henderson; Jockey-Harry Skelton; SP-14/1
3RD-Clova Island 7-11-00 Owner-Mrs Peter Prowting; Trainer-Philip Hobbs; Jockey-Giles Hawkins; SP-14/1
4TH-Peveril 6-11-03 Owner-Trevor Hemmings; Trainer-Nicky Henderson; Jockey-David Bass; SP-5/1 24 ran, Time-5m 5.25s; Dist-3¼, 1¼, 2¾ 9/2 Fav Ashkazar (7th)
2009-WINNER-ANDYTOWN 6-11-02 Owner-Richard & Lizzie Kelvin Hughes; Trainer-Nicky Henderson; Jockey-Felix de Giles; SP-25/1
2ND-Midnight Chase 7-11-00 Owner-Lady Clarke; Trainer-Neil Mulholland; Jockey-Michael O’Connor; SP-100/1
3RD-Big Eared Fran 6-11-02 Owner-Thomas Barr; Trainer-David Pipe; Jockey-Johnny Farrelly; SP-7/2 Fav
4TH-Font 6-10-11 Owner-Mr & Mrs R Nevison & Mr & Mrs Ged Mason; Trainer-Paul Nicholls; Jockey-Harry Skelton; SP-14/1 23 ran, Time-4m 58.52s; Dist-9, 7, 2
