The death has been announced of Peter Walwyn, the champion trainer on the Flat in 1974 and 1975, and an essential driving force in Lambourn’s rise to become a major training centre for both Flat and National Hunt horses.
Walwyn is perhaps best remembered for Grundy’s outstanding performances in the summer of 1975, when he won the Derby at Epsom, the Irish 2,000 Guineas and the Irish Derby, and then got the better of Bustino in the King George at Ascot after a duel down the home straight which was, for many, the “race of the century”.
Walwyn also nurtured the careers of several leading jockeys, including the multiple champion Pat Eddery. The trainer famously stood by the rider and asked the leading owner Daniel Wildenstein to remove all his horses from the stable, after Wildenstein criticised Eddery’s riding of Buckskin in the Ascot Gold Cup.
Walwyn became chairman of the Lambourn Trainers’ Association in 1989, and was elected as an honorary member of the Jockey Club when he retired from training in 1999. He was also awarded an MBE in 2012 for services to horse racing.
“Basically, he formed the the association many years ago and it is thanks to him that we have what we have today,” Merrick Francis, the current chairman of the LTA, said on Friday.
“Even at the very end he was ringing me up and checking I was doing things properly. He’s been ‘Mr Lambourn’ all his life and achieved an almighty amount. He was even responsible for the signs that say ‘Lambourn – Valley of the Racehorse’ when you drive into the village. It’s a very sad passing.”
Friday’s best bets
Many parts of England apparently saw some snow overnight, but both Sedgefield and Exeter passed precautionary inspections and Friday’s four scheduled meetings all go ahead, including the first day of the Tingle Creek meeting at Sandown Park which features a fascinating and competitive renewal of the Grade Two Winter Novice Hurdle.
Anyone planning to go to Chepstow on Saturday, however, or to Kelso or Huntingdon on Sunday, will need to check before they leave that racing is on. Frost is a threat at all three tracks and early inspections will be held on the day of racing.
Sandown, though, has had frost covers down since Wednesday, and will relay the whole lot after this afternoon’s card to do all that it can to guarantee racing tomorrow. On The Blind Side (2.30) is attracting money for the feature event this morning and looks the way to go, despite the fact that he is giving weight to most of his rivals. Nicky Henderson’s runner was a highly impressive of the Hyde Novice Hurdle at Cheltenham last time, and the time of the race gives the form plenty of substance.
Jukebox Jive (1.25) will take plenty of stopping in the juvenile hurdle earliler on the card, while Red Devil Star (3.05) also has plenty in his favour in the handicap chase after a return to form at Lingfield last time out. Flaming Charmer (2.05) and Charmant (12.40) look best at Exeter and Segefield respectively, while Peace And Plenty (7.45) posted a career-best run last time out and should be able to follow up off a 4lb higher mark.
Friday tips
Sedgefield 12.10 Midnight Walk 12.40 Charmant 1.15 Inniscastle Lad 1.45 Smiling Jessica 2.20 Mac Cennetig 2.55 Contented 3.25 Dancing Doug
Exeter 12.30 Lady Longshot 1.00 Run To Milan 1.35 Indy Five 2.05 Flaming Charmer 2.40 Modus 3.15 Yanmare 3.45 Caribert
Sandown 12.50 Pickamix 1.25 Jukebox Jive 1.55 Wilberdragon 2.30 On The Blind Side (nap) 3.05 Red Devil Star 3.35 Cap Du Nord
Chelmsford 5.45 Red Stripes 6.15 Court House 6.45 Pearl Nation 7.15 Karijini 7.45 Peace And Plenty 8.15 Big Bad Lol (nb) 8.45 Dashing Poet
