Junior
Trained by David Pipe, the the nine year old chestnut gelding Junior, was expected to go for his 2012 Grand National warmup at Haydock in February but instead opted for the Betfair Supports Walking With The Wounded Handicap Hurdle at Newbury on Feb 17th where he finished in 8th place under jockey Tom Scudamore.
Despite being the owner of a rare double win in the Ascot Stakes at the Royal meeting and the Kim Muir at Cheltenham, Junior has only run twice since losing rather badly in the same Royal Ascot last June.
Tim Palin, racing manager for Junior’s owners, maintained that the gelding was in good form and his loss in the previous Royal Ascot was simply a case of him coming back too quickly after a difficult race in the Kim Muir.
The gelding certainly has done well for Pipe, as he had started to look uncooperative running for Alan King previously. He failed to make the National in 2011, but was well on his way for 2012.
He was 11/1 favourite for the 2012 Grand National with Paddy Power Bookmakers, but the allocated 11-02 for the 2012 Grand National appeared to have too much for him and he fell at the 2nd fence.
He was not entered again in 2013.
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Past Grand National winner Ballabriggs has been retired.
