MARTIN PIPE moved to within six of his first double century for five years when Diwali Dancer easily took the May Handicap Hurdle at Chepstow yesterday afternoon. But with only 15 jumping days left of the season the champion trainer elect was reluctant to state he would make it 200 winners.

"It might be difficult to get there as I just haven't got the ammunition which I usually have at this time of year, that's why I didn't have any runners at Newton Abbot the other day," reported Pipe.

However, when offered a £50 bet that he would make the double century Pipe joked: "If I took that and got to 1991 would have to stop, wouldn't I?"

Diwali Dancer and Tony McCoy made every yard of the running and scored with plenty in hand to beat Ehtefaal by four lengths.

"He's won very well and might just run again as long as he comes out of this OK," said Pipe

Earthmover made a winning debut under Rules with an impressive success in the Greig Middleton Ladies Championship Hunters' Chase, having scored seven times in point-to-points.