Martin Pipe today equalled Arthur Stephenson's record of training a career total of 2,988 winners when Zapateado landed the Levy Board Handicap Hurdle at Towcester in the hands of champion jockey Tony McCoy.
All roads now lead to Folkestone tomorrow where Pipe saddles two likely favourites and looks sure, barring accidents, to become the winning-most trainer in the history of British racing.
Pipe chose not to go to Towcester as he sent out two favourites - starting with Maid Equal in the EBF/Tattersalls' Mares' Only Novices' Chase.
However after she had been pulled up it was left to Pipe's new recruit Zapateado to deliver the goods.
After Zapateado had tired on the run-in and held on by just a neck from Winter Rose, McCoy indicated that his boss would have a good chance of breaking the record tomorrow.
McCoy said: "The horse just idled badly in front and the truth is he wasn't doing a tap but I have two very nice rides for Martin tomorrow and barring accidents they will be very hard to beat."
Zapateado was a first runner with Pipe for owners Matt Archer and Jean Broadhurst whose string of nine horses include former Triumph Hurdle winner Upgrade.
Archer, who sent his horses to pipe from Nigel Twiston-Davies a month ago, said "There is no animosity between us and Nigel was the first person in the unsaddling enclosure to congratulate us.
"Seven of the horses are with Martin and two more who are injured (Kerawi and Ashley Muck) will join him in the course of time. Upgrade is entered on Saturday and could run in the big novice chase at Sandown."
Nine-time champion trainer Pipe has had his sights set on the long-standing Stephenson record for some time now and got to within striking distance courtesy of a treble at Leicester on Wednesday.
Through The Rye is likely to start odds on for the opening Sponsor A Race At Folkestone Juvenile Novices' Hurdle, while smart bumper horse Mr Cool, unbeaten in three starts this season, will also go off at restrictive odds in the Ruckinge Maiden Hurdle.
