'You couldn't believe how well it went - it was surreal'

Fans' Favourites is a weekly feature in the Racing Post Weekender in which we talk to those closest to racing's most popular horses and find out why they tug on our heartstrings. This week's subject: Comply Or Die

There is no pressure like taking over the yard of Britain’s winningmost jumps trainer. The expectation, the many eyes watching you and an unparalleled pressure to achieve from day one.

That was what faced David Pipe when he took over from his retiring legendary father Martin in 2006, but how best can you silence any doubters than to win the most famous jumps race of them all?

Less than two years on from being the man responsible for those at the iconic Pond House stables, Comply Or Die had won the Grand National with an exemplary round of jumping and to pull off what had been a perfectly planned campaign.

Those who had been doubtful were convinced. This was one of few Nationals which the punters would be celebrating, with the 7-1 favourite backed across the country and the sweepstake ticket everyone had been wanting to hold. William Hill would describe the result as a “stinker” as they counted their losses. Comply Or Die was the hero, David Pipe the mastermind behind it.

Well, Martin Pipe deserves some credit. It was his name on the licence when Comply Or Die first appeared in a two-mile novice hurdle on good to firm ground in October 2003. He showcased his natural talent in his first season, and capped it off with an encouraging fourth at Cheltenham in the race now called the Ballymore. A career over fences was always going to be his game.

David Pipe recalls: “From the very start he was always a lively character and wanted to get on with it on the gallops. He was enthusiastic and didn’t like standing still. He came from Tom Costello so he was a fantastic jumper for day one.

“We started off over two miles because you can never tell from working them at home what sort of distance they’re going to need. We always knew he’d stay well but those really good horses can win at two miles from the beginning.

“If you’ve got a good one you normally know early on, he had a very good first season over hurdles and did very well when he went over chasing. We always knew he’d be a nice chaser, he was natural. Staying and jumping were his forte and I suppose that’s why he ended up winning a National.”

His novice chase season, in the 2004-05 campaign, saw him collect victories in the Rising Stars and at the November meeting in the space of six days and he would go off a 3-1 favourite for the RSA Chase before finishing second to Trabolgan.

Comply Or Die chases home Trabolgan at CheltenhamCredit: Edward Whitaker

Big handicaps were on the agenda next but to no avail. He was pulled up when favourite in the Scottish National and suffered three more defeats before an injury kept him off the track for just under two years.

By this time, David’s name was on the licence and before too long he could dream of Aintree, thanks to a day at Haydock in December 2007. With blinkers fitted and two runs under his belt, Comply Or Die finally showed his natural talent once again, staying on bravely to record a creditable second in the Tommy Whittle, and looking like an extreme test of stamina would suit.

Joe Tizzard rode the son of Old Vic for the first, and only time that day, and admits to hassling his agent Dave Roberts that night to make sure he was on again after. Sadly for him, Timmy Murphy would make sure not to miss an opportunity for the following two seasons.

Pipe reflects: “It took us a while to get him fully fit the year he won the National. He had missed the season before with a tendon injury and he needed treatment and time. He needed a few runs to get him fully wound up and he was well beaten but in the process his handicap mark came down a bit. I suppose it worked out for us in the end.

“The moment we started to think about Aintree was when Joe Tizzard rode him at Haydock. We put the blinkers on him to help him concentrate and he was much better. He finished second that day, looking like the further he went the better he would be.”

'You couldn't believe how well it went'

A 5lb hike from the handicapper raised his rating to 139 and would see him allocated with a weight of 10st 9lb if connections went to Aintree. But first Pipe needed to know whether he could handle an extreme test of stamina.

“A lot of these three-mile chasers you think will get a National trip but you really don’t know for sure unless you try,” he says. “We always thought he was tailormade for any of those long distance races, he was very sure-footed and neat over fences. So we went up to Newcastle and we got the proof we needed in the Eider. Suddenly we then knew that this was going to be his year to win it as he was very well in.”

The nine-year-old was sent off an 11-1 shot that day but produced a performance that would really shake up the following month’s National betting. He moved powerfully with Timmy Murphy back on board, and with a splendid jumping display out in front rolled on for an eight-length win.

This was a first win since 2004 and it meant he would head to Aintree officially 11lb well in at the weights. Oddly, there was one even more officially well handicapped with Cloudy Lane – ahead of Comply Or Die at Haydock – officially 20lb well in.

But the ratings gurus and the punters alike all expected big things from the well-backed Comply Or Die on a sunny April afternoon in Merseyside. Nationals are notoriously difficult to win, but if ever there was a textbook way to win it – this was it.

Timmy Murphy nestled him in a prominent position, and his mount rose to each and every unique fence slick, fast and safely. He had breathing room to respond if any drama unfolded in front of him and on the second circuit the heat was slowly but effectively turned on. Murphy edged him closer, over Becher’s he crept ahead with a huge leap but the pair were patiently poised. They cut through the tiring pack to re-establish an advantage two out and battle on to strike by four lengths.

Comply Or Die's slick jumping helped him round AintreeCredit: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

“If ever he was going to win the National it was in 2008,” Pipe says, speaking from his office at Pond House stables.

“You wanted everything to go right as we all knew this was his chance. Luckily it was a real pleasure to watch. Timmy Murphy gave him a fantastic ride, he schooled him round in the first circuit and kept him out of trouble. Then on the second you can begin to think about the race.

“I imagine it would’ve been a great ride, he was nimble over his fences. You couldn’t believe how well it went – it was surreal.

“I suppose you never appreciate these things as much as you should at the time, lots of sportspeople say that. The moment he crossed the line was a whirlwind for the next week.

Comply Or Die approaches the winning post in the leadCredit: Edward Whitaker

“We flew back in the helicopter and did a few loop de loops on the way back to Pond House. I remember everyone then went down the local pub and we got a phone call – at whatever time it was – saying the horse was going to be back. We all came back to the yard to greet him and it was back down the pub again.”

Yet it was so close to happening all over again. Not since the legendary Red Rum had a horse gone back to win back-to-back Nationals but Comply Or Die was attempting it even after showing little in three starts since.

That was all forgotten about as he once again appeared to travel with his usual enthusiasm, and headed into the closing stages of Aintree’s famous straight locked in battle with 100-1 shot Mon Mome. This time the war was not going to go his way as that rival pulled away in the final few stages. It was a phenomenal run nonetheless.

The trainer says: “Finishing second to Mon Mome off 154 you could say that was an even better performance. Sometimes they go back and they’re not quite the same horse over the fences but not him, he rose to the occasion and loved it.”

Comply Or Die would return to Aintree the following two seasons, finishing 12th in 2010 and subsequently being pulled-up on what would be the final run of his career. He would see out his retirement with his National partner Murphy and go on to enjoy a second career to compete in dressage events.

He died in 2016 but remains one of the most legendary of the thousands to have been housed at Pond House and repeating his achievement is a top priority even 13 years on.

“He was a lovely character in the yard,” Pipe recalls. “He wouldn’t hang about on the gallops, you couldn’t ask him to stop he just wanted to get on with it then get back off to the stable. He was a wonderful horse.

“That day at Aintree was massive in my career, it helped me come out of my father’s shadow at the time. There are some fantastic trainers and jockeys out there who have never won the National but I was very lucky to have done it in my second season. I’d love to do it again – and I’d probably appreciate it again. It’s something I’ll always have on my CV and be proud of.”

Comply Or Die parades in his winning rugCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Read more from our Fans' Favourites series:

Silviniaco Conti: 'His jumping never let him down - he was absolutely class'

Secretariat: 'He was something else – I'm still waiting to see one as good'

Lady Bowthorpe: 'Even on Newmarket Heath, people know who she is'

Quiet Reflection: 'It poured down but we didn't care as she destroyed them'

Alpha Delphini: 'I asked them to stick me 50 quid each-way on that morning

Canford Cliffs: 'He was one of the best racehorses in the last 50 years'

Taghrooda: 'She turned towards the stands and everyone was going absolutely mad'

Kingman: 'There are some in the camp who think he'd have beaten Frankel'

Tropics: 'I saw something that day I hadn't seen much – he worked like a train'

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