Weight won't slow down Pipe's grey

Thanksforthehelp ridden by Gavin Brouder earlier this year

- NIALL CARSON/PA WIRE

THANKSFORTHEHELP can pick up where he left off last season in the Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle at Newbury.

On what looks an informative card, David Pipe’s grey runs in arguably the most competitive race.

Last season he was on something of a retrieval mission as, having looked a promising horse in his younger days, he had begun to lose his way.

From a peak of 128, his mark had slipped to 116 having only shown glimpses of form but he went to Punchestown in April after a 102-day break and he beat Ballysax Hank easily.

The runner-up is now rated over a stone higher and was last seen finishing a narrow second in the American Grand National - which is run over hurdles - so Thanks-forthehelp clearly beat a decent rival there.