'A natural talent' - tributes flow for Classic-winning rider Sandy Barclay

Sandy Barclay had such talent in the saddle in his pomp that he was racing's equivalent of George Best or Paul Gascoigne according to those who remember him most.

The Scot died of cancer on Saturday in Newmarket aged 72.

His friend and former trainer Hugh Collingridge was one of the last to supply Barclay with rides until he finally quit the saddle in 1990 after a 25-year career.

Collingridge said: "Sandy died in his apartment just a stone's throw from Warren Place with his wife Miranda, son Alexander and daughter Iona around him. He'd been fighting cancer of the oesophagus and upper lungs since last summer. He was very brave about it and no-one expected him to see Christmas, but he kept going."

Reflecting on his career in the saddle, he added: "After his early golden spell in Newmarket, Sandy went to France and then to India where he was champion jockey for goodness knows how many years. After that, he came back and rode a few winners for me. He had so much talent as a jockey that I always likened him to George Best and Paul Gascoigne. Just like them he had so much talent but it had to be channelled in the right direction."

A three-time Classic winner, Barclay's best year was 1968 when he rode Royal Palace to land three Group 1s for Sir Noel Murless and finished second on the stable's Connaught in the Derby at Epsom.

Murless's daughter Julie Cecil said: "I'm sorry to hear of the passing of Sandy. He was a very good jockey and one of his best performances for Dad was getting Connaught into the right starting stall as he would not be led into them at all.

"I remember he rode a brilliant race to win the Eclipse on Royal Palace from the French horse Taj Dewan with Sir Ivor back in third. It was a very close finish that day and the French were sniffy about it afterwards, but Sandy got him up right on the line."

Sandy Barclay returns victorious on Lupe after winning the 1970 Oaks at Epsom

His former weighing-room colleague Jimmy Lindley remembered Barclay as a natural talent.

He said: "When he was riding for Sir Noel Murless he was riding with so much confidence and I remember he used to idolise Lester Piggott. He was a nice lad if a bit shy, but horses ran for him and that's a rare thing. He had natural talent and was terrific on a horse."

After quitting the saddle, Barclay had to cope with two serious family setbacks which proved a challenge in later years.

Collingridge said: "I think the two tipping points in his life happened after he had quit riding. His daughter Iona suffered serious head injuries in a horrendous accident during a rally across Europe. The best brain surgeons in Split were on the case and she was flown by Medijet to Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge where she spent a long time. That hit Sandy hard.

"At the same time his son Alexander was shot in a Taliban ambush in Afghanistan. He was in the Royal Scots Greys regiment and was very badly wounded, but still went back into battle to pull a colleague out.

"He was awarded the Military Cross that night and was the youngest ever soldier in the British Army to be handed the award."