In his first season there they broke Michael Dickinson’s record with 129 winners and continued to improve on that score in the years to follow.  In due course, Martin Pipe gave Alastair the opportunity to run his new second yard with full responsibility for dealing with his horses’ welfare, their owners, and the yard staff. During this period Martin was Champion National Hunt trainer every year.

After eight years with Martin, (and gaining hi sacreditation as a member of ‘the Pipe Academy’) Alastair joined Derby-winning trainer Paul Cole as his Assistant, to gain more experience of flat racing.

Two years later, when Hughie Morrison, who was also working for Paul Cole, decided to set up as a trainer, Alastair took the opportunity to use his extensive experience to build a progressive new yard with Hughie from scratch. When he later left to start training for George Ward, horses broken by Alastair at Hughie’s were well known names on the racing map.

Alastair officially became a licensed trainer in February 2002, joining Ward who was already a significant owner of both flat and national hunt horses, and a very influential sponsor in the racing world. Based at Uplands in Compton, he trained many winners, becoming fifth-ranked first season trainer in the UK.  With Glacial Sunset, Alastair gave Ward his first ever Cheltenham winner in December 2002. Parting company from Ward in December 2003, Alastair moved to Eastbury Cottage Stables to set up his own establishment.

Alastair has now been training from Eastbury Cottage Stables since 2004 and has had significant success both on the flat and over jumps.