Back from a heart attack at 57 to win on a horse who 'wouldn't get the trip in a horsebox' - what a legend!

Gary Bardwell truly put the legend into the Leger Legends race. He is 57 and retired before some of his rivals had even started their careers but returned from a heart attack to win – on a mount the trainer thought "wouldn't get the trip in a horsebox".

It was a second success in the race for a man who has taken part in most runnings, even though the first was staged seven years after he gave up being a professional jockey in 2003.

Bardwell missed 2024 and said: "A year and a half ago I had a heart attack riding out. I got laid off by Godolphin and I was riding out for a friend of mine and I had a heart attack on a horse.

"I was very lucky. The ambulance came, they put an ECG on me and said, 'We've got to get you to Papworth Hospital straight away. I had a stent put in and ever since then I've been fitter than anything."

Bardwell, who won the Chester Cup on Bangalore in 2000, now rides out for John and Thady Gosden – "they're great people I work for and I really enjoy it," he said – which put him in shape to partner the Roy Bowring-trained Shazani here.

The 40-1 shot had never run over this far and Bardwell said: "I rang the trainer half an hour ago and he said, 'Do what you want, he won't get a mile in a horsebox because he's only been running six furlongs'.

"So I didn't disappoint him. I was waiting for them all to come past me. I gave him a little squeeze at the three and he picked up and he galloped all the way to the line. It's amazing."

Shazani and Gary Bardwell go solo up the stands' side and are not for catching in the Leger LegendsCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Fair result

Finley Marsh rewarded the owners' loyalty as he won the first Group 3 prize of his career on Fair Angellica in the Japan Racing Association Sceptre Fillies' Stakes.

She won by a short head and the jockey said: "I have to thank the owners for keeping me on. I'm delighted. They're wonderful, so down to earth.

"There's a few times I've come off and said, 'My fault, I should have won or done better', but they carried on putting me on."

Oh Darling

You can tell Gerry Darling is a keen member of the Rogues Gallery: he had his wife sew a white triangle on to his red jacket to match the syndicate colours.

And the retired policeman, who works part-time for the Tote and was on duty on the first three days of the meeting, was all smiles as Rogue Diplomat took the £65,000 handicap over seven furlongs, with Harry Davies in the bona fide silks.

Rogues Gallery member Gerry DarlingCredit: David Carr

"Rogues Gallery are the best syndicate in the world," Darling said. "We're all a big family and we absolutely love it. I've been in since it started. I'd been involved in other syndicates but there's nothing like this."

Marquand strikes again

St Leger-winning rider Tom Marquand continued a successful meeting as he won a division of the 1m2f handicap on Stormy Monday and the 5f handicap on Getreadytorumble.

He had enjoyed a "chilled out evening" after his success on Scandinavia on Saturday.

He said: "There are lots of Group 1s around the world but British Classics are the biggest when you're a British-based rider. It doesn't get much better."

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Gary Bardwell back in the saddle with the Gosdens after being hospitalised with heart scare 

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