Pipe dream

Martin Pipe's retirement announcement came as a complete shock. The man's record is second to none; it speaks for itself.

Top owner David Johnson hinted that perhaps in the latter years the yard had failed to attract enough new owners. Alan Lee in The Times http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,379-2159338.html intimated that the real question now is how badly does son David want the same success as his father.

Bookmakers are offering prices on next year's trainers' championship. All quote Nicholls as the favourite but there are differing views on the chances of the Pipe stable. Stan James has gone out on a limb with a price of 10/1; others offer a more conservative 5/2 and 7/2.

If you are of the opinion that the next generation Pipe trainer, with the help of his father, can work the oracle, 10/1 is a huge price.