It is business as usual in the family firm. Fourteen years ago, Miinnehoma won the Grand National for Martin Pipe; yesterday his son, David, added a different christian name to the list of winning trainers with Comply Or Die, whose four-length victory brought his jockey, Timmy Murphy, a final glimpse of redemption. Murphy spent three months in prison in 2002 for assaulting a stewardess on a flight back from Japan. His career in the saddle, part tantrum, part sublime talent, seemed to be over almost before it had begun, but yesterday at Aintree, the 33-year-old Irishman routed his past and gained the ultimate reward for confronting his demons.

In giving the 7-1 joint favourite a breather a fence from home, Murphy showed coolness and artistry beyond measure. David Casey on Snowy Morning and Paul Carberry on King Johns Castle both sensed that Comply Or Die’s challenge was fading. Casey kicked on, Carberry, as cool as Murphy, gathered his big grey for the final run to the line. But Murphy had grabbed the initiative, played the decisive card, and once the nine-year-old’s leap at the last had propelled him alongside Snowy Morning, stamina and sheer class ruled the day.

Nothing against his countryman, but out in the country nursing his wounds, Tony McCoy would have been cursing his luck as the commentary filled his ears. McCoy chose Butler’s Cabin ahead of King Johns Castle and was, not for the first time in his elusive quest for National glory, rueing his luck on the grandest stage. One moment he was cajoling Butler’s Cabin into the front rank, the next his dreams lay on the floor beside him. “I just tipped at Becher’s on the second circuit,” said McCoy, who has now had 13 National rides without success.

For David Pipe, this was not a weight off his shoulders, just another line in the family history. He and Martin are only the second father-and-son combination to train a National winner, after Tom and Fred Rimell. But the secret of David’s success was laid long ago in the combination of genes he inherited from his parents: amiability from his mother, Carol, the competitive streak from Martin. The 35-year-old has not put a foot wrong in his first two years as a trainer, mocking suggestions that the great days of Pond House would not survive the transition. In his moment of victory, David Pipe paid tribute to his grandfather, David Sr, a bookmaker and founder of an extraordinary dynasty. “Just before he died, I told him I had a good thing for the Foxhunter’s at Cheltenham,” he said. “He was 9-4 favourite and he pulled up and granddad looked at me as if to say, ‘The boy will learn’.”

And the boy did, training a stable of pointers for several seasons before taking over the reins at the stable McCoy once called the “winning factory”. He showed a subtle touch in bringing the brittle Comply Or Die back from a potentially career-threatening injury to win the most gruelling steeplechase in the calendar.

Word had been out from early morning that David Johnson’s first string was not just well-in at the weights with Cloudy Lane, the long-time prerace favourite, but bouncing out of his skin. The money came not in floods, but in a steady enough trickle for the two favourites to be inseparable in the market at the off. Money also came steadily for Hedgehunter, the former winner, who has such a splendid record round Aintree.

Hedgehunter gave his all, but could not push home his challenge in the face of Comply Or Die’s class and speed. This was a Grand National of quality on decent enough ground over well-tailored fences, which no longer favour the out-and-out stayers. Earlier in his career with Martin Pipe, Comply Or Die seemed sure to graduate from a second in the Royal & SunAlliance Chase at the Cheltenham Festival into a Gold Cup horse, but after injuring himself in the Welsh National, he did not see a race-course again for nearly two years.

His return last October was inauspicious, but his second behind Cloudy Lane at Haydock in December and victory in the Eider Chase at Newcastle over a stamina-sapping four miles advertised his wellbeing and his National credentials. Ironically, it was Murphy’s riding of Comply Or Die at Cheltenham that threatened to sever the Irishman’s ties with Pond House. David Johnson, a docker’s son and a former champion owner, was amply rewarded for his faith in Murphy and for his stoicism in the face of some wretched luck at Aintree. “We’ve lost a few horses here and my wife and daughter aren’t keen on the race,” he said. “But they’re happier now. Timmy was cool but I’ve always been a fan of his. That’s why he rides for me.”

The race will be remembered, above all, for Murphy’s poker-playing sleight of hand. Led at a decent pace through the first circuit by Pipe’s fourth string, Milan Deux Mille, Murphy had the nine-year-old in a handy position throughout as first Mr Pointment threatened to bring champion trainer, Paul Nicholls, his first National and then Snowy Morning and King Johns Castle loomed to challenge off the final bend.

Casey played his hand first, then Carberry thought the race was his, but Murphy had the horse under him and once Comply Or Die had jumped to dispute the lead at the last, he pulled steadily clear to win by four lengths, King Johns Castle outbattling Snowy Morning for second. Bewleys Berry, who also travelled sweetly to the very last, was fifth behind Slim Pickings.

There was a sad postscript to the race as McKelvey had to be put down after unseating Tom O’Brien at the 20th. “Lots of people go a whole lifetime without winning this race, so to do so after just two years is very satisfying,” said David Pipe. “But I’ve got a good assistant.” The assistant, a 15-times champion, was more excited than when he won the race himself. His boy is learning fast.