Master Of Arts
Master Of Arts was weak in the market before the two-mile novices' hurdle at Doncaster on Saturday, but he ran out an impressive winner from the highly-regarded and well-backed Copper Bleu, with the pair of them coming clear of their rivals. The winner was receiving 17lb from Copper Bleu, but he is only a four-year-old, and he was making his hurdling debut, whereas Copper Bleu is seven and was having his third start this season. This was only a Class 4 event, but Copper Bleu is a high class individual and set a fair standard.
The David Pipe yard is still a little in and out, but this was a good performance from an impressive individual, who can only improve for this. He won his last six starts for Sir Mark Prescott on the flat, admittedly at no higher than Class 3 grade, and he has a most progressive profile. At first glance, he looks like a Triumph Hurdle candidate, but Pipe's father was never averse to running four-year-olds in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle and taking advantage of the weight allowance that juveniles receive, and he would be an interesting contender for the Festival curtain-raiser. Wherever he goes next, it should pay to follow him.
31st January, 2009
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