Pipe dream comes true to complete an Aintree family affair

Apr 7 2008 by Chris Wright, Liverpool Daily Post

FROM the Tophams to the many relatives who crowd around their televisions screens all around the world, the John Smith’s Grand National is as much about families as it is about racing.

No other race or sport brings together so many families and communities from the 68,360 who flocked to Aintree to those up and down the land who had got their horses in office sweeps or backed them at the local bookmakers and keenly watched their fate.

The many famous racing families who have etched their name in the history of the great race are numerous. Names such as Rimell, Scudamore, Taaffe, Carberry, Walsh and McCain are writ large in Aintree folklore. And Saturday’s 161st running of the world’s greatest steeplechase added another as David Pipe’s Comply Or Die, under a perfect ride from jockey Timmy Murphy, secured victory for a trainer in just his second season with a licence.

The 35-year-old trainer had to follow a racing legend at Pond House stables when, in the summer of 2006, he took over from his father Martin, a 15-time champion trainer and a Grand National winner himself in 1994 with the Freddie Starr-owned Miinnehoma. But already he has shown he was capable of keeping that success in the family and Saturday’s victory with the David Johnson-owned nine-year-old in the £800,000 Aintree showpiece confirmed that the Pipe line can continue.

Pipe became only the second son to follow his father in training a National winner to emulate the success of Fred Rimell – who holds the joint record with Ginger McCain of four winners – whose father Tom had turned out the 1932 winner.

The public’s backing, both financially and emotionally, before the race had been behind another son of a National hero. Donald McCain junior’s fledgling career has been on a similar path to Pipe’s. He took over the licence at Bankhouse stables from his father Ginger the same summer as David did.

And both went into Saturday’s big-race with a well-handicapped challenger for glory.

McCain’s Cloudy Lane had been backed into favouritism in the ante-post market on the back of some impressive performances at Haydock, Ayr and Doncaster.

But on Saturday Pipe’s Comply Or Die joined him at the head of market with a nationwide plunge on a horse, who after finishing second to Cloudy Lane in the Tommy Whittle Chase at Haydock just before Christmas, had shown his jumping and staying power with victory under top weight in the 4m1f Eider Chase at Newcastle. While bookmakers had predicted Cloudy Lane may go off as short as the 7-2 that the great triple hero Red Rum had started in 1975, the money poured in for his market rival and both went off the 7-1 joint favourites.

Irish jockey Murphy hunted round out wide just behind the leaders, but once they crossed the Melling Chase, he was going ominously well.

Two fences from home he joined the then leader, Snowy Morning, and made his move for glory.

The bold-jumping grey King Johns Castle, under 1999 National-winning jockey Paul Carberry, went after the leader from the last fence.

But Murphy pressed on in front at the Elbow and Comply Or Die claimed victory by four lengths from the Arthur Moore-trained nine-year-old.

Snowy Morning had stayed on for third with Slim Pickings 16 lengths adrift in fourth, one place down from last year.

McCain’s Cloudy Lane stayed on to finish sixth, but had never really got close enough throughout to land a blow on his market rival.

Pipe had conquered Aintree’s stiffest test much sooner than his father, but put it down to a horse who was ‘tailor-made’ for the race.

He said: “I have been a bit quicker than dad winning this race, but this horse looked tailor-made for it after his win in the Eider and he had run well behind Cloudy Lane the time before.

“He looked like he would take to the race and had schooled well at home.

“He was well in at the weights, but there were plenty of others who were well in and you need things to go right. He was bred to jump and stay and was a good novice.

“Gordon Elliott trained last year’s winner and is a good friend, he was one of the first to come and congratulate me.

“It’s great for everyone, for the whole team. We couldn’t do any of it without them.

“I’ve had a great teacher in my father. Owner David Johnson has been brilliant and Timmy gave him a fantastic ride.

“I don’t have any overheads and have had a very privileged upbringing and really appreciate it. It’s an ambition everyone will always have and to fulfil it in my second season is amazing

“I told a few people tongue-in-cheek beforehand to come to the party after the race and there will be some sore heads tomorrow.

“The horse deserves a long rest now, he’ll be aimed at all the long-distance chases next year and they don't come any better than this.”

Pipe senior was full of praise for his son and said: “It took me a lifetime to win the race and David’s done it well already.

“Everything went to plan, Timmy gave him a great ride and he was jumping well. I know we are lucky, but he's done it very well.”

Winning jockey Murphy, who has had plenty of lows in his time, savoured the moment.

Murphy has endured a well-publicised battle with alcoholism which he talked about frankly in his autobiography, Riding The Storm.

Back in 2002, when he served half of a six-month jail sentence following an incident on a flight back from Japan following an assault on a stewardess while drunk, he admitted he couldn’t even dream of winning the National. And while he wasn’t at rock bottom – he declared rock bottom was “when you are dead” – Saturday’s win was confirmation of his remarkable rise back to the top.

Since he became retained rider for powerful owner Johnson in 2004 he has continued to prove his quality in the saddle and Saturday was his finest hour.

He said: “This would be the highlight of anyone’s career.

“You only have to think of the people who have not even got round, never mind those who have won.

“My main worry was the first fence as he can jump big, but he has been much better with the blinkers on. He did come up a bit at the first but he settled down after that.

“The plan was to ride him handy, get him into a rhythm and settle him.

“I hung on for as long as possible as I didn’t want to get there too soon. He came out of my hands at the last and when I got to the Elbow I thought I would let him go.

“I could feel Paul Carberry behind me – and he isn't one you like to have there but when I got to the Elbow my fellow picked up again and went away.”

Comply Or Die’s big-spending owner Johnson, who has won some of racing’s biggest prizes, was winning the National for the first time. He was delighted to be a part of another family to have etched their name in Aintree history.

He said: “I didn’t win the Grand National with Martin, but the Pipe yard is very much a family yard and they are great trainers. I would have been pleased to just get round and be in the frame, but to win is fantastic.”