Pipe spells out priorities

Attracting new owners will be one of the priorities for David Pipe as he begins his reign as master of Pond House Stables.

It will be business as usual at the Somerset yard with Pipe junior taking control following the shock retirement of his father, Martin.

“We’ve got lots of fantastic owners and a lot of great horses but obviously I’ll be looking to try and bring in some new owners,” he said.

“You’ve always got to keep going forward and that’s what we plan to do,” the trainer told At The Races.

After a season where the stable’s major players have been hit by injury, Pipe is hoping he can get his big guns back fit and well next season.

“It would be great if Well Chief can come back as good as he was and win some big races, he’s a great horse but the main thing is we’ve got to keep him in one piece,” he continued.

“Every trainer knows that is the hardest thing to do with these horses. We’ve got Well Chief and hopefully a lot of other good horses that will give us a lot of fun next season.”

He acknowledged that his father will have a huge influence on the yard.

“It’s nerve-wracking but I’m really looking forward to it,” he went on.

“Dad has spoken about retiring in the past but it is one thing saying it and one thing doing it. He has just felt that the time is right to pass over to myself and he is usually a good judge and I hope he is right.

“Nothing will really change at Pond House, he’s still going to be here every day and he’ll be passing on his advice all the time.”

Pipe senior was “always breaking boundaries” according to Richard Dunwoody, Pipe’s stable jockey from 1993-95.

“I was sorry to hear that Martin Pipe has retired,” he said of the 15-times champion. He was always breaking boundaries and was never content with his own major results.

“He was always exploring new avenues in the sport.”

Betting guru John McCririck believes the recently-retired trainer can be mentioned in the same breath as Vincent O’Brien and Michael Dickinson.

The Channel 4 pundit says Pipe’s achievements rank alongside anything that O’Brien and Dickinson achieved and he will be remembered as one of the legends of the turf.

“It was a real shock,” said McCririck. “I can’t believe that M C Pipe won’t be there on a racecard or in the newspapers and on the television in the future.

“I think you have to class him with the true legends like Vincent O’Brien, who dominated the game in the 50’s and then Michael Dickinson who transformed the game in the 80’s.

“Dickinson revolutionised racing, very much in the way Pipe has done.”

Pipe junior is as big as 10-1 with Stan James to be crowned champion trainer in his first season and bring the title back to Pond House after Paul Nicholls broke the family stranglehold.

George Primarolo of Bet365 says he faces a stiff task in dethroning Nicholls, quoting him as a 4-1 chance to land the title, with the title-holder 1-3.

“We think Nicholls will take over the mantle from Martin Pipe for a few years now,” said Primarolo.

“I don’t think much will change at the Pipe yard as the change has been coming for the past couple of years, it’s just caught everyone by surprise.

“With Pipe not having such a great season this year the punters will probably now latch on to Nicholls as they used to do with Pipe.

“The big test for David next year will be the Paddy Power meeting. With his dad having such a great record at it, if David draws a blank there could be a few questions.

“The Pipes have been unlucky this year though with injuries to Well Chief, Celestial Gold and Over The Creek and it would not be a shock to see those three winning major races next year. If they did, David would be right in the running for his first title.”

However, Stan James believe it could be a difficult first season for Pipe and only rate him as a 10-1 chance to win his first crown.

Neil Morrice, Stan James spokesman, said: “We believe that the class of animal that Nicholls has at his disposal will make him extremely difficult to beat and success breeds success.

“We have installed Pipe as a 10-1 chance because we can’t be certain that David Johnson will maintain his support at the same level yet.”

Coral take a different stance, though, and believe Pipe (5-2) will make Nicholls’ (2-5) defence of his title far from comfortable.

“It would normally be a huge ask for a new trainer to win the trainers’ title but when your surname is Pipe bookies have learned not to take too many chances,” said Coral’s Simon Clare.