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Martin Pipe Hurdle (5.30) preview

The last race of the Cheltenham Festival is a handicap hurdle for conditional (inexperienced) jockeys. It has been won for the past two years by Gordon Elliott, who worked for Pipe and has said he makes a target of the race. His Dallas Des Pictons, a winner at the Dublin Racing Festival, looks the right favourite, though he has gone up 10lb. Third in this last year, Early Doors might last home a bit better on this drier surface. Representing the Nicholls / Frost team, If You Say Run will find this a lot

harder than the mares’ handicap she won in the autumn. Doctor Dex has been progressing at a low level and this is a tough place to start in handicaps. Daybreak Boy is interesting, as a useful Flat racer turned exciting hurdler, who ran away with a Clonmel race in January.