'He always buys you an ice cream before picking your brain for 20 minutes'

Arthur Stephenson

He trained loads of winners when I was growing up and when The Thinker won the 1987 Gold Cup, Arthur was at Hexham. I remember thinking he must have had a bit of sense to not bother travelling down to Cheltenham, win the Gold Cup and still only be a few miles from home. I've met plenty of lads who worked for him and his no-nonsense approach to training, dealing with horses and farming shone through.

Arthur Stephenson: guided Andrew Thornton from the age of 14

Peter Easterby

Night Nurse, Sea Pigeon and Saucy Kit all won Champion Hurdles, while Alverton and Little Owl scored in the Gold Cup. And that was just over jumps. He is a legend of the sport but very down to earth. He always buys you an ice cream at Doncaster sales before picking your brain for 20 minutes. It's the best 20 minutes you can spend and he is as sharp as a tack.