RACEHORSE trainer David Pipe, based at Nicholashayne, has held a retirement party for two of his most successful horses of recent years.

Between them, ten year olds Un Temps Pour Tout and Moon Racer have won 14 races, including three Cheltenham Festival successes, as well as being in the frame a further 18 times, netting more than £630,000 in prize money.

The horses are both jointly owned by Professor Caroline Tisdale and Bryan Drew, and have provided the Pond House Yard with many moments to treasure since arriving five years ago.

Un Temps Pour Touts ran 28 times for Pipe and won on eight occasions, including the Grade 1 French Champion Hurdle at Auteuil in 2015 and the Grade 3 Ultima Handicap Chase at The Festival in 2016 and 2017,

Moon Racer ran 12 times for Pipe and won five times, his most impressive being the Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival in 2015.

Pipe said: “These two have been amazing horses, had fantastic careers and been brilliant to their owners and all of us at the yard - it will be hard to replace them.

“They are both classy, good-looking individuals and have won at The Festival for us. Un Temp Pour Tout won the French Champion Hurdle, something my father has never done!”

The horses are now heading for a comfortable retirement. Pipe said: “With the help of the Retraining of Racehorses Organisation (ROR) we will find good homes for them for the rest of their lives, whether it is showing or dressage, and this will all be sorted over the next few months.”

Tom Scudamore, who rode both horses to success at Cheltenham, said: “It’s a sad day to see these two retiring as I won on both of them at the Cheltenham Festival. I had a lot of good races on them and we had a lot of fun together. They were fabulous horses to ride.”

Joint owner Caroline Tisdale said: “It’s a bit like the end of an era for us but we felt they couldn’t go out with a whimper because for Bryan and me they have been the most incredible horses.

“Both horses have given us such wonderful days and taken us everywhere. They have been fantastic horses to own and it’s been a privilege.”

Bryan Drew said: “When you set out as an owner you dream of a Grade One horse or a Cheltenham Festival winner and these two horses that have retired today have given us both.

“Both horses have given us five wins each and some days to remember. To get to these big days is one thing but then to go and win is something you treasure forever, especially when you are a small owner like I am.”

Drew added: “The horses have been loved here at David’s yard and loved by the team. Tom Scudamore has been a great jockey and got to know them both very well, so they are part of the family, really.”

Prof Tisdale said: “The pair will now go to ROR who will assess them and see what’s best for them. Both horses are retiring, looking amazing and are great ambassadors for the sport.”

The joint owner added: “I think it’s quite timely with all this chat about welfare to show that the owners, trainers, jockeys and the people who look after them really care for them more than anyone could possibly imagine.”