Former champions O'Neill, Barry and Francome pay tribute to 'top man' Broderick

Former champion jockey turned trainer Jonjo O’Neill led the tributes to Paddy Broderick, who has died aged 80.

O’Neill rode against Broderick for a number of years on the northern jumping circuit in the 1970s and said: “Paddy was a top man and as tough as old boots – you had to be tough to survive as a jockey in those days.

“He rode Night Nurse to win the Champion Hurdle in 1976 and 1977 and when he retired I took over on the horse. He was a brilliant horseman and very hard to beat in a finish. He was also a great character and a true star of the sport back then.”

Another former weighing room colleague Ron Barry, who broke the record for riding the most winners in a season back in 1971-72 with 125 victories, fondly remembers his days in the saddle riding against Broderick.

He recalled: “Paddy was never the greatest of stylists but he was a great horseman of the old school and a real gentleman. He was a great crack in the weighing room in between races – you just never tried to get up his inside in races as you might end up through the rails.

“He was definitely one of the boys from the good old days, as they say, as racing has changed so much since he was riding with agents and better roads. Back then we had to book our own rides but northern jumping was much bigger and powerful than it is now and Paddy and the rest of us were always on the lookout for rides.”

John Francome: spoke fondly of former weighing room colleague Paddy BroderickCredit: David Dew

Seven-time champion and former Channel 4 racing pundit John Francome was also quick to pay his respects and said: “He was a real one-off who lived and rode with a smile on his face and that was what it was all about in those days. I rode against him plenty of times and you could tell he was loving every minute.

“He was never what you could call a stylist in the saddle but horses ran for him, as he showed when winning two Champion Hurdles on Night Nurse. It’s really sad he is no longer with us.”

Read more

Paddy Broderick, rider of Champion Hurdle great Night Nurse, dies at 80