Cheltenham Festival-winning trainer Tim Etherington dies at 62

Yorkshire racing is mourning Cheltenham Festival-winning trainer Tim Etherington, who has died at the age of 62.

He won the Cathcart Chase with Repeat The Dose in 1992 when based in Andrew Wates's yard in Surrey. He also trained Rough Quest for three seasons before he went on to win the 1996 Grand National for Terry Casey.

Etherington moved back to his home county in 1994 and succeeded his father Jimmy in charge of Wold House Stables in Malton, landing Listed wins with sprinters Burning Thread and Fullandby in two decades with a licence.

The trainer also won three races with King Rat, a useful sprint handicapper who was owned by the magician Paul Daniels.

He had been an independent member of the BHA judicial panel since 2020 but died earlier this month in Mexico, where he was being treated for throat cancer.

Burning Thread won the Listed Scurry Stakes at Sandown under William Buick in 2010Credit: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

Joe Fanning rode more winners for Etherington than any other jockey and said: "It's sad news, I rode for him when he first came back up north to Malton and he was a nice man, very genuine and straightforward to ride for.

"He wasn't a massive trainer but his horses were always well turned out and I had a bit of success for him."

Etherington played a key role in PJ McDonald's switch from the jumps to the Flat by putting him up on Fullandby when the sprinter won the Portland Handicap at Doncaster's St Leger meeting in 2007.

"It was one of my first high-profile Flat winners, which gave me the stepping stone to go on from there," a grateful McDonald said.

"I was only a 3lb claimer at the time and it was very nice of him to let me ride a horse of that calibre, he gave me the big winner that lets everyone else know you can get the job done on the big day."

Etherington is survived by his father. Funeral details will be announced once his body is returned from Mexico.