History-maker Martin Pipe proved at Sandown Park today that the chances of him resting on his laurels amount to precisely zero.
Just 24 hours after becoming the winningmost trainer in British racing, the Nicholashayne maestro secured a treble on a highly-competitive card, courtesy of Urban Hymn, Upgrade and Auetaler.
The winners, at accumulative odds of about 72-1, were all ridden by Tony McCoy.
Upgrade only became a member of Pipe's powerful stable six weeks ago and already the trainer's magic appears to have rubbed off on him.
The 1998 Triumph Hurdle winner had fallen on his last outing but on this occasion jumped splendidly in the hands of Tony McCoy.
He was never headed and kept up a powerful gallop all the way to the line to defeat Young Spartacus by 11 lengths.
Norski Lad, trained by Paul Nicholls, was well behind when pulled up before the 11th fence.
Upgrade was one of nine horses Matt Archer and Jean Broadhurst decided to transfer to Pipe from Nigel Twiston-Davies' yard.
"That makes it two out of two for us since we sent the horses to Mr Pipe," said Archer. "Mr Pipe took a big chance running him in a race like this but he knows what he's doing.
"Nigel Twiston-Davies is a lifelong friend of ours and there's no animosity between us over the move. We felt a few of the horses wanted a change and I don't want to go into any more than that."
Pipe said: "I haven't done anything to the horse. But Tony did school him over a few open ditches at home and he jumped great today.
"On this performance you can see why he won the Triumph Hurdle and I'm sure two miles will be his best distance."
Upgrade is likely to be heading to Cheltenham but, as with many Pipe horses, it is undecided which race.
But the most likely option is the Arkle Challenge Trophy for which Coral quote 20-1.
Connections were quizzed over the poor showing of favourite Norski Lad. Timmy Murphy told the stewards the horse was never travelling or jumping well and they decided not to take the matter any further.
Pipe's Irish recruit Urban Hymn (8-11) had to work hard before overcoming Donatus by three and a half lengths in the Ripley Juvenile Novices' Hurdle.
"It was a bit of a struggle but he finished in front which is the main thing," said the trainer.
"This was only the second race of his life - and his first over jumps - and he's still on a learning curve, but he's certainly got an engine."
Bookmakers took mixed views of the performance. Ladbrokes eased Urban Hymn to 20-1 (from 14s) for the Triumph Hurdle but Victor Chandler and Coral have both cut him to 10-1 for the same race.
Pipe rounded off the day when Auetaler, owned by past and present Liverpool footballers Steve McManaman and Robbie Fowler, defeated Mr Percy.
The 11-year-old Relkeel was most disappointing, weakening to finish a well-beaten fourth of five.
Nicholls was on the mark when Rockforce made it six wins from his last six completed outings with a ready defeat of Native Charm and Edredon Bleu in the Elmbridge Handicap Chase.
Cheltenham is now on the cards with the Grand Annual Chase a probable objective.
Edredon Bleu, winner of the corresponding event 12 months ago, will now go straight to Cheltenham for the Queen Mother Chase for which he is quoted at 8-1 by Coral and William Hill.
"I'm delighted with him. The ground was quicker and it was stronger competition than last year. So, if anything, he's run even better," said trainer Henrietta Knight.
Twiston-Davies may have lost Upgrade but there was some compensation for him as Rubahunish ground out a victory in the Tote Scoop6 Sandown Hurdle.
In a driving finish to the £45,000 handicap he ran on gallantly to deny Brandon Court.
Pipe sent out four runners for this contest, including the favourite Carlovent, but did not manage to get a runner in the first four.
Trouble Ahead survived a worrying collision with the rails on the run-in to take the main prize in the Agfa Diamond Chase.
Rupert Wakley was on the verge of celebrating his win when the 8-1 chance careered right.
Fortunately the impact was only minor and Trouble Ahead went on to defeat Menesonic by one and a half lengths.
The success was missed by trainer Kim Bailey who is enjoying a skiing holiday.
Bailey's assistant Charlie Lonsdon said: "It was a bit worrying to watch. The horse wears a special sliding bit which is meant to stop him hanging but he still went for the far rail. Thank goodness it's worked out okay in the end."
