A HORSE dubbed racing’s ‘next superstar’ and a big Cheltenham Festival favourite is blocked from running again.
David Pipe’s Windbeneathmywings was a jaw-dropping winner of a Listed Ascot bumper last month.
Have we just seen the next superstar?
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) December 20, 2024
Windbeneathmywings annihilates his rivals in the bumper at @Ascot… @DavidPipeRacing @jacktudor9 pic.twitter.com/ckJD6jGLtC
Sent off 3-1 under jockey Jack Tudor, the five-year-old chestnut gelding ran his rivals into the ground and cruised home hard held by 14 lengths.
He was instantly slashed from 50-1 to 8-1 favourite for Cheltenham Festival’s Champion Bumper – a position he now shares with Gordon Elliott’s Kalypso’chance.
Ratings boffins Timeform had Windbeneathmywings 8lbs clear of anything else – and only 1lb below what Jasmin De Vaux achieved in winning the actual race last year.
But a peculiar rule means he cannot take to a racecourse again between now and the bumper on Wednesday, March 12.
[authenticated-scripts src=”%3Cscript%20class%3D%22palin-poll%22%20src%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thesun.co.uk%2Fpollingwidgets%2Fv3%2Fwidget.js%3Fquestion_id%3D104696%26game%3Dpolling%22%3E%3C%2Fscript%3E” type=”embedded” width=”100″ /]Those planning to run in the Champion Bumper are not allowed to have raced more than three times.
The rule is extended to four if one of those races is in a Listed or Graded contest – as Windbeneathmywings’ last race was.
Still, after three previous runs in Ireland for former trainer Patrick Flynn, Windbeneathmywings has now maxed out his quota.
It means his only prep for the Festival will be doing work at home.
[bc_video account_id=”5067014667001″ application_id=”” aspect_ratio=”16:9″ autoplay=”” caption=”‘Nothing pretty about it’ – Nicky Henderson’s world-record jumps horse wins on debut” embed=”in-page” experience_id=”” height=”100%” language_detection=”” max_height=”360px” max_width=”640px” min_width=”0px” mute=”” padding_top=”56%” picture_in_picture=”” player_id=”default” playlist_id=”” playsinline=”” sizing=”responsive” video_id=”6367559619112″ video_ids=”” width=”640px”]Pipe said: “He’s very well, he’s had an easy time since Ascot.
“We’re just keeping him ticking over at home, then we’ll start building him up for Cheltenham in March.
“He wouldn’t be eligible if he ran again, so it’s straight there now, straight to Cheltenham.”