David Pipe on his runners over the weekend

WE ONLY had a couple of runners at last week’s Cheltenham Festival and I was delighted with the way that EAMON AN CNOIC ran when fourth in the Plate.

As I mentioned in my column, the trip was the slight question mark, but he battled all the way to the line and I was delighted with that.

It was also great to see POKER PLAY back to his best in front of the ITV cameras last Saturday when winning the valuable handicap hurdle at Uttoxeter. He loved the ground and did it nicely in the end.

I’ve been busy trying to find the best City Syndicate horse possible and I’m hoping to have news on that over the coming weeks.

It was great to meet a few of you that have already signed up at Cheltenham last week and there are still a couple of shares available if you are interested ([email protected] for those of you that are).

I’m saddling three at Newbury this afternoon starting with REMASTERED in the opening novices’ hurdle (1.45pm).

Having won his Chepstow bumper last February, he made a pleasing debut over hurdles for us when winning nicely at Ffos Las in November.

However, he didn’t reproduce that effort when slightly disappointing at Exeter three weeks later and we have given him some time to get over that.

He is one we have always liked and the step up in trip should help too, although we wouldn’t want the ground to dry out too much.

THREE STAR GENERAL takes his chance in the first division of the split staying handicap hurdle (2.50pm).

This will be his 10th start of the campaign and he deserves to get his head in front having been placed on four of those starts.

He was second again last time but the handicapper has nudged him up another couple of pounds which makes life tough.

Things didn’t go to plan for NORDIC COMBINED who fell at Sandown a couple of weeks ago and he is back in action in the two-mile handicap hurdle (4.30pm).

I’ve put the visor back on him again today as I am hoping that will help.

He is quirky but has plenty of ability and can be competitive if putting it all together.

LEGAL HISTORY looks like being my only runner at Newbury (2.40pm) on Saturday.

He’s set to take his chance in the juvenile handicap hurdle and could be a lively outsider off a nice racing weight.