David Elsworth: spirited genius with an eye for a horse but no head for business

David Elsworth has something of a reputation for speaking his mind. Bluntness some would call it, to the point of rudeness others might add, and he has certainly had his run-ins down the years, with the authorities, with owners, other trainers, jockeys, gatemen, the VAT man, but never let it be said that he won't admit when he's wrong.

Martin Dwyer, the man who rode the great stayer Persian Punch to several of his later big wins, will testify to the fact that 'Elzee' is the first to own up to his mistakes, although as the jockey found out to his cost, even when he's in the wrong, he's normally in the right.

"I rode one for him at Goodwood and I had a shocker," recalls Dwyer, with what to some might be disarming honesty, but to the irascible Elsworth was no such thing. "You know what Goodwood's like – it's like driving through town and if you meet the first traffic light wrong, everything's wrong after that, and as I pulled up I knew I had to face Elzee afterwards.