The day Comply Or Die cleaned up for Pipe in Grand National

Watch how Comply Or Die won the 2008 Grand National doe David Pipe, and read about the trainer's hopes for Vieux Lion Rouge in this year's renewal.

Finding the right horse for the Grand National is not an easy task, but it is one David Pipe can always look back on and proudly say he has fulfilled.

While 2008 winner Comply Or Die, who was owned by the late David Johnson, would go on to run in a further three Nationals, it will always be his first shot at glory in the Aintree marathon 10 years ago that will best be remembered by Pipe and his team.

Pipe said: "It feels like a long time ago. I suppose we really started to think he could be a National horse when he won the Eider. He stayed that trip and all he did is jump and gallop. If ever he was going to win a National, it was that year. He was well in at the weights and that year was his year, and so it proved."

Arriving on the back of a tenacious success in the Eider Chase at Newcastle, the dual Grade Two winner was sent off the well-backed 7-1 joint-favourite in the hands of Timmy Murphy.

Hitting the front on the run down to the penultimate fence, Comply Or Die did not let his legion of supporters down, finding plenty for pressure to cross the line four lengths clear of Irish raider King Johns Castle.

Pipe, who was emulating his father Martin's success with Miinnehoma from 1994, added: "He went there in good form and after that you just need a lot of luck. He popped from fence to fence and Timmy gave him a great ride.

"He just popped round and travelled well - you could have called him the winner from a long way out, but you don't want to be doing that.

"It was only when they got to the elbow I started to believe he was going to do it, but even then it is a long run from there to the line and things can change, even though you don't want to think that.

"I took over some great horses owned by David Johnson and it was an amazing achievement to say that I've done it in my career. There are plenty of better trainers that have never won the race. It was great to do it in my second season."

Pipe still remembers where he was positioned when Comply Or Die crossed the line.

He said: "I watched the race from the inside of the track on the big screen. It was surreal, you don't know what to do with yourself. As you are on the inside of the track, it takes time before people get to you.

"I ran over to Timmy and Comply straight away. It takes a while for it to sink in. The rest of it is really a bit of a blur.

"We all headed home and all of the staff went down to the pub to celebrate. We got a phone call from the travelling head lad saying we are nearly home with Comply Or Die.

"Everyone raced back to the yard to see him off the lorry then we all went back down to the pub!

"People stopped me in the street afterwards to say 'well done'. It is a world-famous race and the congratulations went on for a long time. It was great living it up."

Since Comply Or Die's victory, Pipe has saddled 28 runners in the National without success, but he hopes Vieux Lion Rouge can change that statistic by making it third-time lucky.

He said: "He has run in the last two Nationals and run well on both occasions. He has not quite got the trip, but he is stronger this year.

"The first half of the season has not gone according to plan for him, though. In previous years he has got good form in the first half of the season and not the second. Hopefully the roles will be reversed this time.

"He likes the fences and jumps them better than park fences. He will be a bigger price than last year, but he doesn't know that.

"It will be very nice to win it for his owners Caroline (Tisdall) and John Gent. Caroline has been big supporter of the yard and it is her dream to win the race."