'He’s honest, sincere and knows how to handle any situation'

Oliver is an amazing man. If I was to have a horse with someone it would be Oliver. He makes it fun, he’s very honest, very sincere and knows how to handle any situation.

I was with Oliver a good ten years and learned a lot there. We became a very good team. He let me have a lot of input as we built things back up. Then, going from an assistant with Oliver to doing it on my own, he gave me pretty much everything I needed to do that. Even now I ring him for advice.

What says it all is the way he dealt with the Many Clouds situation. I’m not ashamed to say I shed a tear, as did hardened trainers like Alan King, Nicky Henderson and Donald McCain. I know it would have been hurting him so much inside but Oliver held it together. The way he dealt with the media and all his staff epitomises the man. He's like that pretty much day in, day out. He’s always had staff who have lasted with him.