Johnson Shocked By Pipe News

Owner David Johnson, who has been behind many of Martin Pipe's major victories in recent seasons, has admitted to being as shocked as everyone else at the trainer's decision to quit.

Pipe announced this morning he would be handing over the reins at Nicholashayne to his son David with immediate effect and his three runners in the Betfred Gold Cup were to be his last.

Pipe and Johnson have combined to win races such as the Arkle, Paddy Power Gold Cup and Hennessey Gold Cup recently and the owner admits the 60-year-old's retirement will leave a big hole in National Hunt racing.

'It's a shock to the racing community as a whole really, not just myself,' said Johnson.

'It's the end of an era and I think his records speak for themselves.

'As time goes on people will look back and marvel at his achievements in the years he was a trainer and for 15 of them he was champion of his field.

'I don't quite think people realise the enormity of what he has achieved.

'If you go to any top National Hunt yard in the country they will all have an uphill all-weather gallop ? Martin was the first to have one fitted and now everybody has followed and that has been the same with a lot of his methods.

'He has revolutionised training. Some have caught up with him but he was the path finder really.

'In time people will look back and marvel at what he has achieved and I don't think we will see the likes of Martin again.

'It's a sad day for racing but he is still around.

'I'm sure he'll still be very much involved in the day-to-day running of the yard.

'David is a bright lad and I'm sure he'll do very well. David would always rather face the press and the media rather than Martin and he is probably better at it as well!'

Former champion jockey Peter Scudamore enjoyed a fantastic association with the Pipe yard.

'I suppose (what set him apart) was his attention to detail and hard work, whether he was on his bicycle or studying Timeform and his newspapers,' he said.

'His mind was always on racing. I loved working with him because we shared such enthusiasm for racing. He just loved it, he had a passion for it. He had such enthusiasm for it and I am sure he will be there behind David to continue that.'

Paul Nicholls, who has deposed Pipe as champion jumps trainer for the first time, admitted his arch rival had shown the way with his innovative training methods.

'I was surprised in some ways and in other ways not (at Pipe's retirement). He's at the top and has nothing to prove. It's probably a good time for young David to take over,' the Ditcheat trainer told BBC Radio 5 Live.

'I was riding for David Barons at the time when Martin was doing well well and it soon worked out the reason his horses were winning was because they were fit and fitter than anybody else's at the time.

'We based a lot of what we do around that ? fitness.

'He runs them in the right races and I think fitness was the big key as to why he was so successful early on. He was way in front of everyone else.'

(C) PA Sport