Pipe bumper winner has wind in his sails - but he will still have plenty to prove against likely Irish juggernaut

Windbeneathmywings could be new star for Pipe – but caution advised over Champion Bumper bid

Ascot’s Listed bumper on Friday was always going to be an informative contest with nine last-time-out winners lining up, and so it proved as Windbeneathmywings announced himself as a potential star.

Making his first start for David Pipe after three runs in Ireland, Windbeneathmywings was in a different league to the rest as he motored 14 lengths clear without jockey Jack Tudor having to ask any serious questions.

However, the fact he heads the betting for the Champion Bumper alongside the Gordon Elliott-trained Kalypso’chance seems a bit of an overreaction.

It is possible to pick holes in the form of his two bumper wins in Ireland, while his sole defeat came by four lengths to Jerry From Kerry, who has not won any of his next four starts and was recently beaten more than seven lengths by Kalypso’chance.

There is every chance we have not seen the best from the Elliott yard yet either, while we definitely have not seen the best of Willie Mullins’ contenders for a race he has won four times in the last five years (Fact To File was runner-up in the odd year out) and a record 13 times in total.

That said, Windbeneathmywings proved his superiority over many runners from some of Britain’s top stables at Ascot and this is an exciting time for Pipe, who can rightly be aiming high with his horse.

Supreme form takes more knocks

There is still time for it to turn around, but the form of the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle is looking fairly shaky after Slade Steel was beaten over fences for the second time at Naas last Monday.

From the summer onwards, the 11 contenders in last season’s Supreme have run a combined 17 times but only one has been successful, namely Firefox, when 2-7 favourite on his chase debut at Down Royal.

Runner-up Mystical Power was a subsequent Grade 1 winner at Aintree and Punchestown, and his run in the Fighting Fifth was surely too bad to be true, but it is slim pickings otherwise. 

Asian Master and Tullyhill, fourth and eighth in the Supreme, were both comprehensively beaten recently by Triumph Hurdle winner Majborough, and Cheltenham’s other novice hurdles both look to have stronger form lines.

Lecky Watson got the better of Supreme winner Slade Steel at Naas on MondayCredit: Patrick McCann

Six runners in the Albert Bartlett have come out and won this season, including Slade Steel’s latest conqueror Lecky Watson, who was only fifth at Cheltenham. Ile Atlantique’s brilliant chase debut win was also a boost for the Gallagher. now Turners.

Kabral Du Mathan has big future

A cracking finish to the Ladbrokes Handicap Hurdle at Ascot on Saturday saw Fiercely Proud come out on top, but there was just as much to like about the effort of narrow runner-up Kabral Du Mathan.

The Paul Nicholls-trained four-year-old was making just his fourth start and lost absolutely nothing in suffering his first defeat, with the first two pulling 17 lengths clear of the chasing pack which was headed by Greatwood Hurdle second Be Aware.

Kabral Du Mathan travelled into the race very smoothly, and there must be plenty of improvement to come given his inexperience. 

It would be no surprise to see him play a major role in races like the Betfair Hurdle and County Hurdle next year.

David Power Jockeys’ Cup standings (ITV races)

Harry Skelton 138 points
Sam Twiston-Davies 122
Harry Cobden 104
Nico de Boinville 102
Sean Bowen 90

British jump jockeys’ ­championship

Sean Bowen 111 wins
Harry Skelton 103
Sam Twiston-Davies 76
Gavin Sheehan 61
Harry Cobden 60

British jumps trainers’ ­championship

Dan Skelton £1,599,539
Paul Nicholls £1,129,236
Olly Murphy £758.681
Nigel Twiston-Davies £747,779
Nicky Henderson £705,285

Irish jump ­jockeys’ ­championship

Paul Townend 51
Darragh O'Keeffe 49
Sam Ewing 44
Keith Donoghue 42
Jack Kennedy 34

Irish jumps trainers’ ­championship 

Gordon Elliott €2,095,515
Willie Mullins €1,649,885
Henry de Bromhead €925,885
Gavin Cromwell €872,245
Joseph O'Brien €521,675

Read these next:

Willie Mullins confirms Galopin Des Champs-Fact To File rematch - and gives Ballyburn green light for huge Sir Gino clash 

'I'm delighted with how he jumped' - Lecky Watson shines to deny Rachael Blackmore a winning comeback at Naas 

'It’s a big feather in his cap' – delight for Ben Pauling as Fiercely Proud downs Kabral Du Mathan in epic Ascot battle 

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