Mark Rimell, who hails from one of the most famous families in Nat- ional Hunt history, is determined to make his name in his own right after setting up as a trainer at Leafield, near Witney.

Grandson of the legendary late Fred Rimell and his widow Mercy, Mark has set his sights on continuing a glittering tradition.

Fred was champion jockey four times before going on to land a record four Grand Nationals with ESB, Nicolaus Silver, Gay Trip and Rag Trade as a trainer, plus two Gold Cups courtesy of Woodland Venture and Royal Frolic and two Champion Hurdles with Comedy Of Errors.

Following his death, Mercy continued the success story by taking over the reins at Kinnersley in Worcestershire and saddling Gaye Brief to capture the 1983 Champion Hurdle.

"I am not sure I will ever scale the heights they did, but at least it is an aim," says Mark as he sits in the tackroom. "It puts a bit of pressure on, but it just makes me want to try harder.

"My biggest ambition is to be recognised as Mark Rimell rather than Fred and Mercy's grandson."

And in keeping with the partnership his grandparents established, Mark, 33, has his fiancee, Annie Dudley, 30, as his trusty ally in their training operation.

The couple, who became engaged last year and are due to marry in June, looked at numerous properties before deciding that the stables on Fairspear Road - which are owned by Annie's parents, Bill and Eileen - could provide them with the base to pursue their dream.

Annie has been involved in training horses there for the last ten years, and since Mark, who has had spells with Josh Gifford, David Nicholson, Simon Christian and Nigel Twiston-Davies, moved there last year, they have revamped the stables in the main yard.

Their facilities also include 30 acres of paddocks and an indoor school for their horses.

But Mark's pride and joy is a six-and-a-half furlong Ecotrack gallop which he has had installed on land he leases from neighbour Chris Badger.

"I sold my house at Bourton-on-the-Water to pay for my facilities, so now I am galloping up and down on top of my house every morning!" he adds with a wry smile.

"I think the two main factors behind the success I hope we are going to have is the quality of the gallop and having happy horses. They are turned out every day which makes it as natural as possible for them."

And, having taken out a full training licence last October, Mark's methods have already reaped rewards.

Oneway gave him his first winner from his new base when ploughing through the mud to land a handicap chase at Lingfield in December, with his trainer in the saddle.

"I was delighted to get a win on the board so early on," he says as he applies green bandages to the seven- year-old's forelegs before taking him for a spin on the gallops.

"Annie and I firmly believe in our own capabilities or we would not be doing this, but it is nice to prove it to yourself and everyone else."

And the couple clocked up winner No 2 when Crossbow Creek, who gave Mark his first winner as a permit-trainer last year when he was based at Bourton, scored at Ludlow earlier this month with the handler again in the saddle.

Montemoss, twice a runner-up this term, and Rollo, who finished third at 25-1 on his racecourse debut in an Ascot bumper, are other members of their 15-strong string they have high hopes for.

"One of my ambitions is to train a Cheltenham Festival winner, and an even greater one is to be sat on board it as well," adds Mark, who has made an impressive start to maintaining a proud family tradition.