Tally-ho John 

Racing mourns death of Swindon trainer John Manners

 

It was the end of an era in National Hunt racing with the death this week of local trainer John Manners.

 

Breeder and trainer: John Manners

The larger-than-life character, who bred and trained horses at his farm in Highworth, Swindon, for more than forty years died on Monday.

 

The 83-year-old won the prestigious Foxhunter Chase with Cavelero in 2000, just two years after tasting success for the second time in the Martell Fox Hunters' at Aintree - held over the Grand National fences - with the same horse; the first with Killeshin in 1994.

 

Extrovert

 

In a career that also included numerous point-to-point successes, Manners was regarded as one of the most colourful characters in the sport - including a number of high-profile visits to the stewards' enclosure.

 

In one episode, he famously jumped over the side rails at Cheltenham to cheer his horse Knight Of Love up the hill to victory, throwing his trilby in the air in celebration.

 

"Enthusiasm got the better of me," he said at the time after receiving a £50 fine.

 

The funeral will take place on Thursday 01 October.