MARTIN Pipe, the champion jumps trainer in Britain, has been playing a different role this season, languishing in fifth place on current standings, with his 160-strong yard in the West Country still in the grip of a menacing virus.
But the industrious Pipe, who claims to be working harder than ever to bounce back, still has ambitious plans for the big races over the Christmas period.
Pipe has announced plans to send the exuberant jumper Rolling Ball to Kempton Park for the King George VI Chase tomorrow, setting up an intriguing clash with The Fellow, the French-trained favourite, and Young Hustler, an exciting winner of the BetterwareCup at Ascot.
Also booked for the traditional festive season feature is Barton Bank, a promising young jumper trained by David Nicholson.
Rolling Ball, winner of the Sun Alliance Chase in 1991 but plagued by leg injuries almost ever since, had been 5-1 favourite with the sponsors for the Coral Welsh National on Tuesday, but the firm have now removed the gelding's name from their list and offer him at 4-1 ''with a run'' for the Chepstow race.
The gelding, set to be partnered by Richard Dunwoody, is on offer at 14-1, from 25-1, for the King George, a price-trimming exercise affected by the news of Pipe's decision earlier this week.