Blakeney's 66-1 Triumph shock the start of a wonderful adventure

1 Martin Pipe's legendary career initially was a distinctly slow-burn affair. He was in his seventh season when 66-1 shot Baron Blakeney became the first of 34 Cheltenham Festival winners when he turned over hot favourite Broadsword in the Daily Express Triumph Hurdle in 1981 under Paul Leach. The victory was only the trainer's 42nd career success. "We really fancied it," recalled Pipe decades later. "If it had been trained by a proper trainer like Fred Winter it would've been 14-1!"

2 After his initial success with Baron Blakeney, the 15-time champion trainer did not train another festival winner for eight years until he took both novice hurdles in 1989 with Sondrio and Sayfar's Lad. Stable stalwart Jonothan Lower partnered Sondrio, 25-1 in the Supreme Novices' after flopping at Kempton, which persuaded Peter Scudamore to jump off him in favour of Irish-trained Elementary. Sondrio won by four lengths from Island Set; Elementary was brought down three out.

3 Pipe's 34 festival winners were ridden by 14 different jockeys. Tony McCoy led the way with 11 winners, while Peter Scudamore rode six of them. Next came Timmy Murphy (3), and Jonothan Lower, Mark Perrett and David Bridgwater with two apiece.