David Pipe’s column as told to Richard Walsh

THE last week has flown by and just like that, the Cheltenham Festival 2025 is done and dusted. I hope you all enjoyed the week, there were some great winners and emotional stories behind those winners and my initial impression is that in general, it was a good week for our sport.

We had just the three runners and sadly were not involved in the finishes but I was there every day and it was lovely to have so many familiar faces in our hospitality marquee.

American Sniper led the field a merry dance in the Pertemps final and ran a cracker, holding every chance approaching the last but just fading up the hill. King Turgeon pulled up in the Ultima but ran well for a long way. He has had a terrific first half to the season and that will probably be it for him for now. Gericault Roque travelled and jumped well before weakening from two out.

Over the weekend, Jilaijone and Phantomofthepoints both ran their races in competitive handicap hurdles at Uttoxeter. Both horses are probably just high enough in the weights at the moment and weren’t beaten that far. With some help from the handicapper, there will be easier opportunities for them.

With not much recent rain, the ground at Exeter has dried out quite a bit and now contains good to firm in the going description. Our first runner of the week comes from there on Tuesday with Kepagge running in the staying handicap hurdle with Jack Tudor riding. He has had a nice break having been waiting for some drier ground, so conditions will be ideal and he is in good form at home. The handicapper has given him some help and he has won at the track before.

Ocean Heights runs on the all-weather at Southwell on Wednesday evening and Taylor Fisher rides. He has not been in top form of late but is edging down the weights and has the ability to feature.

Things get a little busier towards the end of the week with entries at Chepstow on Thursday and Sirekoff and Shot Boii are intended runners.

On Friday, we have entries at all three jumps meetings and Belfrina is likely to run at Musselburgh on Friday in the final of a juvenile series that she is qualified for.

There is good prize money on offer for this race and at Kelso on Saturday where Walkadina has an entry in the Herring Queen Mares novices handicap hurdle.

On Friday, Lady Balko holds an entry in the West Wales National at Ffos Las while we also have entries at Newbury on the same day as well.

On Saturday, we have entries at Bangor and Neon Moon as an entry at Newbury while on Sunday we stay a little more local to home, with entries at Exeter. Keep checking the Daily News section on the website for all the latest news on the stable runners.

I must just say congratulations to our stable jockey Jack Tudor who won the Midlands National on Saturday on Mr Vango. Jack is having a terrific season, his best to date since he started riding and he is on the 61-winner mark for the season.