David Pipe is excited at the prospect of Dynaste taking on the brilliant stayer Big Buck’s in the Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot on Saturday.
While admitting Paul Nicholls’ superstar will be very hard to beat, the Nicholashayne trainer has vowed to make a race of it.
Dynaste has plenty to do on official ratings but he looked on the upgrade when storming to victory in a fixed brush handicap hurdle at Haydock last month.
“Looking ahead to the weekend, we confirmed Dynaste at the five-day stage for the Lough Derg Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot on Saturday and a potential clash with reigning staying hurdler Big Buck’s,” he told www.davidpipe.com.
“It is a huge ask to beat Big Buck’s, but we will be giving it our best shot – Dynaste is an improving young stayer who more than deserves his place in the line-up.
“You cannot be scared of one horse, although realistically we have it to do on official figures.”
Sparky May finished a creditable fourth to Big Buck’s in the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury and is set to renew rivalry this weekend.
“Hopefully she’s going to run,” trainer Keiran Burke said.
“She’s come on a lot since Newbury. I think I thought she was fitter than she was that day, although I think we’re running for second.
“I want to send her over fences. I think she’ll run in the Listed race at Ascot that she won before, and then we’ll reassess.”
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