The punters' pal bows out after near 50-year career

Claude Duval, racing's longest-serving newspaper correspondent, has retired after 47 years working for The Sun.

Duval, 71 and known as 'The Punter's Pal', spent Saturday at British Champions Day at Ascot having penned his final piece for The Sun, where he was the only remaining staff member from when the first edition of the tabloid was published on November 17, 1969.

"It's a sad day," he said. "I've had a very good innings, 47 years, the only surviving member from the first night of the paper in 1969. Only the great Rupert Murdoch and myself were left. Now he's on his own. He's 84, I'm 71, so he's outstayed me."