Pipe plans six sweep

Martin Pipe looks prepared for another attempt to go through the card at Exeter on Friday evening. The former champion jumps trainer is responsible for 25 of the 61 entries on a six-race card at a course where he came very close to sweeping the board four years ago.

On that occasion Pipe landed the first five events, but the six-timer was foiled when the odds-on Ever Smile went down to Frosty Reception in the finale.

A clue to Pipe's keenness to go through the card is the entry of Nordic Valley, comfortable winner of a handicap at Newton Abbot, in the opening selling hurdle. And Pipe seems determined not to fall at the final obstacle this time. He supplied two of the three original entries and when the race was re-offered, he provided four of the six new entrants to leave him with six of the nine runners, including one-time Triumph Hurdle fancy General Mouktar.