Horseracing: David Pipe on his weekend runners and looking ahead to the Welsh National

AT THIS stage, it doesn’t look like I’m going to have a runner at Cheltenham over the next couple of days, but I will be running a few on Sunday.

The feature race tomorrow is the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup and I see no reason why Baron Alco cannot win again. He was hugely impressive last month and may take some stopping.

As for my runners, keep an eye out for UMBRIGADO who looks likely to take up his entry at Southwell (1.10pm).

He won his bumper at Uttoxeter last month in grand style and has schooled well at home since. We like him a lot and hopefully he should go very close.

GREAT TEMPO is also likely to take up his engagement in the amateur rider’s handicap hurdle (3.20pm). I’ve a sneaky feeling he could do with an extra half a mile, but we will give it our best shot.

There is a chance I could send DELL’ ARCA up to Carlisle (2.25pm) for a handicap hurdle. It doesn’t look the strongest of races, but it is a long way to go and I’ll make my mind up later this morning.

Looking back at last weekend and I was thrilled with RAMSES DE TEILLEE who won the Coral Welsh Grand National Trial at Chepstow in great style.

The logical next step would be the big one itself back at Chepstow in a few weeks’ time, but we will see how he is nearer the time. He certainly didn’t look like he was stopping at the end so that gives me encouragement that he will stay the extra trip.

VIEUX LION ROUGE also delighted me in the Becher Chase when staying on at the finish. He is in the Welsh National too, but we might wait with him and head to Haydock before having another go at the Grand National in April.