Death of Classic-placed and Cheltenham Festival-winning owner-breeder Anne Tory

Highly successful owner and breeder Anne Tory, whose best horses included Combs Ditch, Flyer’s Nap and the siblings Mighty Fly and Mighty Flutter, has died aged 97.

Together with husband Jim, the Torys enjoyed plenty of memorable days on the Flat and over jumps, with one of the undoubted highlights being when Mighty Flutter finished third behind Secreto and El Gran Senor at 66-1 in the 1984 Derby.

Grand-daughter Emma Worsley said: “He was bred at the family farm at Winterborne Whitechurch, Dorset, and being placed in the Derby at that price would have been a particularly good result for my grandmother, who was known to like a bet and would most certainly have backed him!”

The fillies and mares ran in Anne Tory's colours of royal blue with a white disc and white hat, and Mighty Flutter’s half-sister Mighty Fly carried them to victory in both the Lincoln and Royal Hunt Cup in 1983.

Other notable homebreds included Combs Ditch, a narrow runner-up in consecutive King George VI Chases, being beaten a short head by Burrough Hill Lad in 1984 and a neck by Wayward Lad in 1985. He started favourite for the 1985 Cheltenham Gold Cup, in which he finished seventh behind Forgive 'N Forget.

Dual Cheltenham Festival winner Flyer's Nap, pictured here with David Bridgwater

Flyer’s Nap was another flagbearer, being a dual Cheltenham Festival winner in the yellow and black diamond silks of Jim Tory, with victories in the 1995 Kim Muir and 1997 National Hunt Handicap Chase, while others of note included 1984 Cleeve Hurdle winner Buckbe, triple US Grade 3 winner Mighty Forum, Mighty Falcon, Mighty Flash, Uncle Eli, Flyover, and Wink And Whisper.

David Elsworth was the Torys’ principal trainer, while others on the roster included Robert Alner, Philip Hobbs, Alan King, Rod Millman and David Nicholson.

Jim Tory died aged 87 in 2010, and his widow’s death came last month. There are plans for a memorial service, but in the environment of Covid-19 it has not yet been possible to make firm arrangements.

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