A race named in honour of the master of Pond House who plundered all of the big races at the Festival with regularity.
It was run for the first time last year and won by 25-1 outsider Andytown.
The Nicky Henderson trained gelding spoilt the party as David Pipe had been hoping to capture the prize in honour of his father with one of his seven runners.
Big Eared Fran fared best of his runners in finishing third as the heavily punted 7-2 favourite, and Pipe junior will certainly be going all out to go two places better this year.
It goes without saying that whatever he saddles will command the utmost respect.
