'He was a lovely man' - tributes paid to West Country trainer Gerald Cottrell

Gerald Cottrell was hailed as "one of the first serious Flat trainers in the West Country" after his death was announced at the age of 97.

He trained at Cullompton in Devon for more than half a century and his best horse was Acclamation, who won the Diadem Stakes at Ascot, finished third in the Nunthorpe and went on to become a fine source of precocious and speedy two-year-olds at stud.

Cottrell started with a permit soon after the second world war and had several useful jumpers, including Royal Sun, White Paint and Plumber's Mate, before taking out a full licence in 1971.

He won the Portland Handicap at Doncaster with Roman Prose in 1988 and won numerous races with sprinters such as Ever Sharp, Gallant Hope and Young Inca before retiring in 2005.

"He was a lovely man," said Rod Millman, who rode out for Cottrell and also partnered several winners over jumps for him. "He was very well thought of and a very good trainer.

"He was a real stockman. Acclamation was his best but he had lots of other good horses. He was one of the first serious Flat trainers in the west country, you couldn't really do it before the M5 was built as it would take a long time to get anywhere."

Millman took up training himself in 1989 and recalled: "He was a great help to me when I started. He trained next door to me for ten years and he always offered great advice.

Acclamation: won the Diadem Stakes at Ascot for Gerald CottrellCredit: Edward Whitaker

"After he retired I know he took a lot of pleasure from watching Acclamation youngsters, as that was his best horse."

Unusually, Cottrell was rarely seen on the racecourse himself and was usually represented by his wife Peggy.

He once told the Racing Post: "I like to be at home to start with and we were never big enough to have an assistant who could take over if I went racing.

"I used to have to get everything organised before we went and then, when we got back, there were always problems, and I just decided I didn't want to do it any more. Peggy has been going for years and I have been happy to watch the races on TV.''

Cottrell is survived by his wife and his four children, with daughter Judy married to current Cullompton trainer Stuart Kittow.

Gerald Cottrell

Full name Leslie Gerald Cottrell

Born Kentisbeare, near Cullompton, Devon, December 7, 1924

Father Jesse Cottrell (farmer)

Wife Peggy (nee Western), married 1953; 4 children

Stables Kentisbeare and Dulford, near Cullompton, Devon 1950-2005

First winner Royal Sun, Buckfastleigh, May 29, 1950

First winner on Flat Fenny Boy, Salisbury, May 25, 1976

Group winner Acclamation (2003 Diadem Stakes)

Listed winners Perfect Timing (1988 Scarbrough Stakes), Acclamation (2003 Starlit Stakes)

Big-handicap winners Young Inca (1983 Bovis Handicap dead-heat, 1985, 1987 & 1989 Rous Memorial/Havelet Handicap), Manchesterskytrain (1985 Balmoral Handicap), Governor General (1986 William Hill Trophy dead-heat), Roman Prose (1988 Portland Handicap), Gallant Hope (1989 Tokyo Trophy)

Richest prize £151,800 (2001 St Leger Yearling Stakes, Acclamation)

£50,000 bonus Stock Hill Lass, for winning 3 races at Kempton in 1987

Notable 1-2 1985 Balmoral Handicap, Ascot (Manchesterskytrain, Grand Harbour)

Last winner Angel Sprints, Sandown, September 14, 2005

Most wins in a season 23 (Flat 1987), 16 (jumps 1973-74)

Total career wins 335 (209 Flat, 126 jumps)

Compiled by John Randall