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Obituaries

Gold Cup-winning trainer Robert Alner dies aged 76

Robert Alner outside his Dorset yard in 1998
Robert Alner outside his Dorset yard in 1998Credit: Edward Whitaker

Robert Alner, who trained 1998 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Cool Dawn, died in hospital on Monday night at the age of 76.

After a successful spell as an amateur jockey, Alner took out his training licence in 1993 and enjoyed a number of big-race winners including 2005 Betfair Chase winner Kingscliff and The Listener, who represented his Dorset yard in the 2008 Irish Hennessy.

He was paralysed in a car accident in 2007 and the following year he and his wife Sally became the first couple to be granted a joint training licence in Britain, which they gave up in 2010.

Alner is survived by Sally and their daughters Jennifer and Louise, who is married to trainer Robert Walford.

Walford said: "One of our owners, John Millar, is a doctor and he said it was 250-1 for Robert to last five years after his accident and evens for him to last two years, so for Robert to live for 12 years after it just shows what an amazing man he was.

"He’s been a boss, father-in-law and inspiration to me. He was a brilliant, top-class trainer who did so well with horses that were not expensive. He was tough and had plenty of courage.

"It’s a day of mixed emotions as it’s very sad but Robert had not been particularly well in the last week and had a bad day yesterday.”

Robert Alner's wife Sally and jockey Andrew Thornton after winning the 2007 Welsh National with Miko De Beauchene
Robert Alner's wife Sally and jockey Andrew Thornton after winning the 2007 Welsh National with Miko De BeaucheneCredit: Edward Whitaker

Alner provided Andrew Thornton with some of his best days in the saddle, including aboard Cool Dawn and Miko De Beauchene in the 2007 Welsh Grand National shortly after his accident.

He told Sky Sports Racing: "It's really sad news as we were very close and he meant an awful lot to me. He was in intensive care for 101 days after his accident and people don’t do that but Robert kept battling.

"Miko De Beauchene was the most emotional winner of my career as it came six weeks after Robert had his accident. I went down to see him in hospital afterwards and it was hard to communicate with him, but to relive the success for a couple of hours meant so much.

"He was paralysed from the neck down but wouldn’t miss a race and he followed my career throughout. He’s going to be sorely missed.”

Published on 4 February 2020inObituaries

Last updated 19:43, 4 February 2020

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