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Meet the remarkable jumps trainer making waves in the old-fashioned way

John Ryan: 'I'll take anyone on and play hard and fair. I wouldn't give an inch to anyone.'
John Ryan: 'I'll take anyone on and play hard and fair. I wouldn't give an inch to anyone'Credit: Patrick McCann

John Ryan tightens his gaze and points to a patch of hydrangeas in the corner of his front lawn where his three "bravehearts" are buried below.

He's reliving the dark days when stable stars Kylecrue, Draycott Place and Foildubh suffered fatal injuries and how nothing would prevent him from giving his old pals the sendoff they deserved.

"Kylecrue, Draycott Place and Foildubh won a million euros between them and the three of them were killed within the space of a year," Ryan says, kicking away the undergrowth to reveal the tombstone marking their deaths.

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