Leading northern owner-breeder Reg Bond dies aged 77

Group-winning owner-breeder Reg Bond was hailed as "a fine ambassador for northern racing" after his death was announced at the age of 77.

The Yorkshireman, who dreamt of owning a horse when he used to go racing at Beverley as a teenage apprentice engineer, saw his colours carried to success by high-class colts Captain Gerard, Misu Bond and Monsieur Bond, who each became stallions.

Triple Group 3 winner Ladies Are Forever was the most recent Pattern scorer for a man who founded the hugely successful tyre business Bond International and became an owner after being invited to a day's racing by fellow tyre magnate Wayne Clifford.

Bond's first horse was Bond Boy, who won the Stewards' Cup at Goodwood in 2002 when trained by Bryan Smart.

"It's very sad news," the trainer said. "Reg and I go back a long way and we had some great days with the likes of Bond Boy, Captain Gerard, Misu Bond and Bond City that Frankie won on at Epsom.

"I remember when Monsieur Bond won the Duke of York Stakes in 2004. It was a day that was planned. We both had a great love of York, being Yorkshiremen – just to have a winner there was something special and to win a Group 2 like that was fantastic.

"He was a fine ambassador for northern racing. He supported the northern tracks, he had plenty of runners, he had his stallions stood in the north."

Bond's wife Betty predeceased him and he is survived by three sons and a daughter.

Monsieur Bond won the Duke Of York Stakes under Fergal Lynch in 2004Credit: Edward Whitaker

Sandown target for Altior

Altior will be aimed at a fourth successive victory in the Celebration Chase at Sandown on the final day of the jumps season next month following his late withdrawal from Wednesday's Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase, Nicky Henderson has confirmed.

The record-breaking 11-year-old has only been seen once this season in an interrupted campaign and was ruled out of the Champion Chase on Monday morning following an unsatisfactory scope.

He could be stepped back up to two and a half miles for the Melling Chase at Aintree, but another appearance at the Surrey track is likely to be the destination for Altior according to the trainer.

"It was a horrible day yesterday," Henderson said. "It was the second year running at the eleventh hour – you were dreading the week starting that way.

"What he had yesterday was nothing contagious, it is a bacterial infection and that is nothing he can give to anybody. Hopefully we can clear that up, but whether it is in time for Aintree, I don't know.

"There is the Celebration Chase at Sandown and he would need to be ready for that. I would say Sandown is more likely than Aintree."

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