Davids celebrate as Our Vic gets Aintree going

Apr 4 2008

OUR VIC provided the trainer-owner team of David Pipe and David Johnson with the perfect tonic ahead of Comply Or Die’s John Smith’s Grand National bid tomorrow with a thrilling narrow victory in the totesport Bowl Chase yesterday.

The 10-year-old just got back up to leave last year’s Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Kauto Star in the runners-up spot again after he also lost his crown at last month’s Festival.

Pipe was overjoyed as after looking destined for runners-up spot, a slight error at the second last by Paul Nicholls’ star under a forceful ride by Ruby Walsh allowed Our Vic to close over the last and on the run-in. And in the shadow of the post a bobbing finish saw jockey Timmy Murphy just get Our Vic’s nose ahead on the line.

The David Johnson- owned Our Vic has been called a few names, but he certainly battled for a victory. And Pipe shows what high regard he holds the horse in as he added to his victory in the Ryanair Chase last month in yesterday’s 3m1f Grade One feature.

Pipe said: “Both horses deserved to win. Our Vic and Timmy have given their all. He’s battled back, he’s got a good jump at the last.

“I was always happy until we made a mistake at the first in the home straight. Blinkers have definitely helped him and sharpened him jump.

“He’s a very good horse and has been a good horse all his life. Whenever this fellow retires we’ll miss him.”

Murphy will be on board Comply Or Die – trained by Pipe and owned by Johnson – in tomorrow’s National. The horse continues to attract support in the betting market and is a best- priced 11-1 with Sportingbet, but is the 10- 1 second favourite with most firms behind Donald McCain junior market leader Cloudy Lane – who is 11-2 best with Coral and Sportingbet.

The jockey admitted that he decided to partner the Eider Chase winner rather than Vodka Bleu – another of five Pipe runners – because he was ‘playing safe’.

The Irishman said: “I think it was the safest decision. He’s proved that he stays and that he jumps safely, two things you need to do in the National.

“Vodka Bleu is an old favourite of mine and a lovely old horse. We’ve had some great days. He’s been round here while Comply hasn’t, (but) I couldn’t get off the second or third favourite for a 33-1 shot.

“The Eider probably didn’t probably ride the greatest race to me, but the physical act of carrying 12st over four miles and going away from the others at the end is what I was impressed with.

“He raced well against Cloudy Lane at Haydock and he’s been kept fresh for this. This is race you have to be trained for, not a last- minute decision.”

Nicholls, meanwhile, admitted he may have got the tactics wrong with his eight-time Grade One winner Kauto Star suffered his second Aintree reverse this season.

The Ditcheat handler, who will saddle four in his bid to end his Grand National drought, said: “Ruby’s not happy with me. I told him to be positive with him.”, bowl along - probably he should have just got a lead and not have been so positive.

“We get it right more times than we get it wrong. I’ll take the blame.

“I just said ride him like he stays and be positive and kick on in the straight if you want to. He didn’t agree with me on the day, but he’s run a good race. All credit to Our Vic, he’s run a good race today and the best horse on the day won.”

Nicholls added: “Kauto always makes the odd mistake. On the whole he's brilliant.

“We’ll get him fresh and we'll see him back next autumn.

“The mistake at the second-last obviously didn't help him. I got it wrong and Ruby's mad with me. We normally get it right.

“He’s a very good horse. You don’t win the races he’s done without being top class and he’s given an awesome performance considering what happened the last day (Gold Cup). okay I got the tactics wrong today, but he’ll be back next season, don’t worry.”

Meanwhile in the first race over the Grand National fences yesterday, the John Smith’s Fox Hunters’ Chase for amateur riders, 6-1 chance Christy Beamish managed to overcome an horrendous error at Becher’s Brook when he was virtually down on the floor to reverse placings in last year’s race with dual winner Katarino.