David Pipe completed a big-race double on Saturday when Osana made all the running to win the Boylesports International Hurdle.
Pipe saddles Osana to International Hurdle victory at Cheltenham.
David Pipe completed a big-race double on Saturday when Osana made all the running to win the Boylesports International Hurdle at Cheltenham under Paddy Brennan.
After landing the
Boylesports Gold Cup early with Tamarinbleu, Pipe followed up with Osana beating a top-class hurdling field in the International.
Brennan did not hang around and made the running on Osana, trying to make use of the 8lb advantage on champion hurdler Sublimity, who looked good in patches before fading at the final hurdle.
Katchit came to challenge, but 7-1 shot Osana had too much left and motored away to lay down a marker for the Champion Hurdle.
Katchit had to settle for second while Penzance stayed on to land third.
"He's some horse," said Brennan. "I really enjoyed that. They said he was ready and he meant business.
"He jumped super - Tom Scudamore (injured stable jockey) has a lot to look forward to.
"He missed the last but then I was away again.
"The Pipes are back - horses that make all and keep kicking. He's good enough for a crack at the Champion Hurdle."
Pipe dream
Pipe looks to have the ability to follow in his father martin's illustrious footsteps, and he said of Osana: "He's won on merit, he nicked a couple of lengths at the start but they went a sensible gallop.
"They caught him up just like they did in the County Hurdle, but he went away again today whereas they swallowed him up in March," he told
Racing UK.
While trainer John Carr was obviously disappointed Sublimity had been beaten, he was not that upset.
"I'm disappointed that he has not won, but he has run a very good race," said Carr.
"Philip (Carberry) just said he blew up coming to the last.
"I was aware of not trying to overdo him at home because the key is to keep him fresh.
"The plan stays the same, he'll go to the AIG next (Leopardstown, January 27)."
The race was marred by a serious injury to former Champion Hurdle second Macs Joy, who had to be put down due to a broken leg.
Clerk of the course Simon Claisse confirmed that Jessica Harrington's stable stalwart had been destroyed.
"He broke a tibia and had to be put down immediately," said Claisse.
