The young five year old West Tip was stabled at trainer Michael Oliver’s yard in the small village of Elmley Lovett, 10 miles north of Worcester. Remarkably, the horse bared a huge scar across his hind quarters, the result of an accident at home with a lorry in October 1982.  At that stage his career may have been over before it had began but luckily there was no serious muscle damage and the horse was back and running by the following December.  West Tip surprised his connections by winning at the first attempt over hurdles and never looked back with the promise of better things to come once sent over fences.

West Tip became a regular at The Cheltenham Festival, first running there in 1983 as a six year old in the Sun Alliance Hurdle finishing third behind, no less than, Sabin Du Loir (first) and the great Dawn Run (second).  He eventually would appear at a record nine consecutive Festivals including three attempts at The Cheltenham Gold Cup. 

Although an out and out stayer he did manage to finish fourth (1987), fifth (1989) and sixth (1988) in chasings blue ribbon event.  His ninth and final Festival appearance came in the Christies Foxhunters Chase in 1991 where he was sixth.  West Tip was retired shortly afterwards aged 14 years old and was given to vet John Williams.