Born: 29 May 1945 Started training: 1977 Base: Nicholashayne, Somerset 2003-04: 175 2002-2003 wins: 190 2001-2002 wins: 235 2000-2001 wins: 162

He won his first title in 1989, and his domination of the sport since then has been broken only by David Nicholson, who took the championship twice in the mid-1990s.

Tony McCoy was champion jockey nine times in a row while stable jockey for Pipe, before his decision to leave in April 2004.

Peter Scudamore and Richard Dunwoody previously took the title while riding for Pipe's Somerset stable.

The son of a bookmaker, Pipe was an amateur rider until breaking his thigh in 1972.

In 1977 he took out a trainer's licence, although he did not become champion trainer until 1989, when he had 208 winners, almost double the previous record.

Pipe brought a revolutionary approach to training which has paid off in spades - since his first title, no trainer has had more winners each season than him.

His method is a scientific one, with blood tests and relentless fitness training an integral part of his horses' regime.

Many of Pipe's successes have come at the more unfashionable tracks.

But he has enjoyed his share of big race wins, including on the Flat, where he has landed several races at Royal Ascot as well as the Northumberland Plate and the Doncaster Cup.

Pipe has won the Grand National (Miinnehoma 1994) and the Champion Hurdle (Make A Stand 1997), although victory in the Cheltenham Gold Cup has so far eluded him.