THE BEST made plans do not always work out, especially when horses are involved but there is a great sense of relief and pride when they do! The Grand Sefton chase at Aintree over the Grand National fences was an ‘early closing entry’ race and I was keen to enter King Turgeon back in October.

King Turgeon has always been an electric jumper of fences and while his owners, Somerset Racing, thought I was a little mad for suggesting the race initially they went along with the idea. At that point in time, King Turgeon was yet to run this season and was last in action back in the spring where he was taken out mid race, by a loose horse. 

We made the entry at Aintree and headed to Chepstow for his first run of the season knowing that he would have to win or run very well to even consider going to Liverpool. We were nearly a stone out of the weights and needed a few horses to bypass the race to stand a chance of making the cut. Stable jockey Jack Tudor was banned for his comeback race on 29th October but we were able to call on the services of champion jockey Harry Cobden, not a bad deputy! Our gallant six-year-old grey put in the most exhilarating round of front running jumping at Chepstow and won by ten lengths!

There were many discussions between myself and Richard Wilkin before the confirmation and declaration stages for Aintree but our seven-pound penalty for winning added to the defection of the original top weight, Hitman, meant we would be only two pounds out to the handicap.

It is always a little nerve racking watching horses you train over the National fences but I can honestly say I was the most at ease I have ever been throughout! The horse is such an athlete and jumped every fence so neatly with pinpoint accuracy it really was a joy to watch. As the runners turned for home before two out I did think, we have run well whatever happens even if he is not good enough from here to win but as he pinged two out and Jack sat back up in the saddle, I thought here we go! He jumped the last in front and then stayed on powerfully from the elbow to the line, with Jack punching the air as he crossed the winning post. 

Jack has had quite a lot of experience for someone his age over the Grand National fences but he said he had never experienced a round like that before and I am delighted for him, the owners and all of the yard. It has been a while between drinks for the big Saturday winner for the team and this meant the world to us. We have had a great time with winners in recent weeks and long may it continue.

King Turgeon has come out of the race very well and while plans have yet to be discussed as to where he might go next, we will make an entry for him in the Becher Chase over the National fences again with early closing entries on Tuesday. This is the second time I have won the Grand Sefton race with Poole Master winning it ten years ago in 2014 ridden by Tom Scudamore.

This week we have runners at Lingfield on Tuesday, entries at Taunton and Market Rasen on Thursday, and Friday is the first day of the Cheltenham November meeting where we have several entries. Keep checking the Daily news on the website for the latest news on the stable runners.

Dave Pipe