David Pipe

David Pipe

DOB: February 7, 1973

David Pipe is the son of 15-times champion jump trainer Martin Pipe. He started out riding in point-to-points in 1992, going on to record 22 wins in his career over the next five seasons, plus two under Rules, which included victory aboard Bonanza Boy in the Ludlow Gold Cup.

After finishing as a rider, he had spells with Michael Dickinson in the US, Criquette Head-Maarek in France and Joey Ramsden in South Africa, before setting up as a point-to-point trainer, handling the likes of Horus, Lord Atterbury and Celestial Gold, who went on to have successful careers under Rules when transferred to his father’s yard.

Based at Purchas Farm, a mile away from his father’s Pond House, he sent out 164 point-to-point winners over six seasons, with Well Armed successful 15 times. He took over the reins at Pond House in Somerset following the retirement of his father on the last day of the 2005/6 jump season - Saturday, April 29.

Pipe Jnr made the best possible start to his training career under Rules when getting on the scoresheet with his first runner, Standin Obligation, in a three mile and one furlong novice chase at Kelso on May 9, 2006. Our Vic landed the Grade Two Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby in October, 2006, on his seasonal return to provide him with his first big success. In his initial season, David sent out 134 winners, with star filly Gaspara providing a memorable double in the Sunderlands Imperial Cup at Sandown and the Fred Winter Juvenile Novices’ Handicap Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival three days later.

Those achievements were surpassed in the 2007/2008 season with Comply Or Die's John Smith's Grand National victory augmented by the fantastic triumphs of stable stalwart Our Vic in Aintree's Grade Two totesport Bowl, in which he defeated the mighty Kauto Star, and in the Grade One Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

Further big-race successes last season came courtesy of Tamarinbleu who gained both the Boylesports.com Gold Cup at Cheltenham in December and Ascot's Victor Chandler Chase the following month. David completed a brace of wins at the Cheltenham Festival in 2008 with An Accordion prevailing in the William Hill Trophy alongside Our Vic's Ryanair Chase triumph, while Ashkazar captured the Imperial Cup at Sandown and old favourite Lough Derg carried off the Grade One BGC Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot. The trainer ended his second season with 100 winners and almost £2.5 million in prize money to his name, placing him second behind Paul Nicholls in the trainers' championship.

Last season, David consolidated his position as one of the country's leading trainers, with Madison Du Berlais' victories in the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup and the Levy Board Chase at Kempton, and Comply Or Die’s second in the Grand National, being some of the highlights of his campaign.

Cheltenham Festival wins (3):

Fred Winter: 2007 Gaspara

William Hill: 2008 An Accordion

Ryanair: 2008 Our Vic