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Nicky Henderson Closing In On Pipe Total
12/02/07

Following the retirement of Martin Pipe at the end of the 2005/06 season, Nicky Henderson is now the leading current trainer at The Festival, having sent out 31 winners since 1985.

His three successes in 2006 included Greenhope in the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase, the race named after his father, and moved him into third place in the list of the all-time most successful Festival trainers, three winners behind Martin Pipe (34 winners), and nine behind Fulke Walwyn, who sent out his 40 winners over a five-decade period.

Henderson is some way clear of his rivals, with Irish handler Edward O’Grady (18 winners) and the current champion jump trainer Paul Nicholls (13 winners), winner of the Racing Post Award for leading trainer in 2006, the only other current trainers to have managed a dozen or more successes at The Festival.

THE MOST SUCCESSFUL TRAINERS OF ALL TIME AT THE FESTIVAL

40 Fulke Walwyn (Winners from 1946-86)
34 Martin Pipe (1981-2006)
31 Nicky Henderson (1985- )
28 Fred Winter (1970-88)
26 Tom Dreaper IRE (1946-71)
25 Fred Rimell (1948-81)
23 Vincent O’Brien IRE (1948-59)
23 Bob Turnell (1956-80)
22 Ivor Anthony (1930-52)
19 George Beeby (1930-59)
17 David Nicholson (1986-99)
18 Edward O’Grady IRE (1974- )
15 Harry Brown (1920-38)
15 Tom Coulthwaite (1911-36)
15 Tom Rimell (1927-49)
14 Dan Moore IRE (1953-79)
13 Jack Anthony (1929-50)
13 Paul Nicholls (1999- )
13 Tim Forster (1963-98)
12 Peter Easterby (1967-86)
12 John Edwards (1969-94)
12 Tom Jones (1965-78)

(NB Trainers of some of the earliest winners were not recorded)

THE MOST SUCCESSFUL CURRENT TRAINERS AT THE FESTIVAL
31 Nicky Henderson
18 Edward O'Grady IRE
13 Paul Nicholls
11 Jonjo O’Neill
10 Philip Hobbs
9 David Elsworth
9 Willie Mullins IRE
7 Henrietta Knight
7 Nigel Twiston-Davies
6 Francois Doumen FR
6 Arthur Moore IRE
6 Mouse Morris IRE
6 Oliver Sherwood
5 Jessica Harrington IRE
5 Dessie Hughes IRE
5 Ferdy Murphy
5 Aidan O’Brien IRE