Pipe confirms that Dynaste will run in Jewson at Cheltenham

Trainer David Pipe has solved one of the last remaining Cheltenham puzzles in the run up to the Festival by confirming that his charge Dynaste will line up in the Jewson Novices’ Chase.

The seven-year-old is unbeaten over fences and also held an entry in the RSA Chase on Wednesday, but with Pipe believing that he stands a greater chance in Thursday’s Jewson, the grey enters the field as the 7/4 favourite.

“The RSA looks like it’s going to turn into a real slog,” Pipe told the Racing Post, “and with the Jewson being run on Thursday we should get nice, fresh ground on the new course.”

Pipe’s decision to pitch Dynaste’s stablemate Goulanes into the RSA as opposed to the much longer National Hunt Chase saw his charge’s odds for the Jewson immediately shorten, and with the yard looking to separate their two contenders for the festival there will be high hopes that both can deliver.

The highlight of Dynaste’s career over fences so far came in the Grade 1 Feltham at Kempton on Boxing Day, when the seven-year-old went off as the 8/13 favourite and romped home nine lengths ahead of Nicky Henderson’s five-year-old Hadrian’s Approach.

That win followed earlier four-and-a-half length successes at Newbury and, perhaps tellingly, at Cheltenham in November, and the presence of Pipe’s gelding in the Jewson on Thursday is sure to be met with concern from the rest of the field, who are now potentially outclassed.

At 4/1, Henderson’s six-year-old Captain Conan might be best equipped to make the challenge to his fellow French horse following three straight victories, whilst the Willie Mullins gelding Aupcharlie can also not be rulled out at his price of 9/2.

All odds and markets accurate as of publication’s time and date.