'I'll never get a better owner' - Nigel Tinkler tribute after Jim Gordon death

Tributes have been paid on both sides of the English Channel to Jim Gordon, the Yorkshire-based owner of a string of talented jumpers in France and a loyal and longtime client of northern-based trainers such as Nigel Tinkler, James Ewart and Martin Todhunter.

His death last Friday at the age of 77 came just five days after Theleme was crowned leading three-year-old hurdler in France in the Grade 1 Prix Cambaceres, a race Gordon won on three occasions.

Gordon first had horses in training in France with Marcel Rolland in the early 2000s and the partnership remained a fruitful one, with talented chaser Crystal Beach landing the Grade 2 Prix Murat at Auteuil last April.

Beaumec De Houelle and Pierre Dubourg return after providing owner Jim Gordon with the second of three victories in the Grade 1 Prix Cambaceres at AuteuilCredit: Racing Post/Scott Burton

Over the last decade he also had a steady stream of success with Arnaud Chaille-Chaille, who trained all three of Gordon's Cambaceres winners, Bonito Du Berlais, Beaumec De Houelle and Theleme.

His racing manager in France, Bertrand Le Metayer, said: "We worked together for 20 years and I think it was pretty historic for him to win the Cambaceres three times. He was a great guy and always showed an incredible amount of trust in people.

"Jim loved coming to see his horses run in France as often as he could and missed very few of the big races. His reply was always the same after a big win, he would say 'that's marvellous.'"

Le Metayer added: "It was great that he was able to see Theleme win before the end and it shows the trust he had in us all because we bought him during lockdown, and really he was bred to be a sprinter. But he didn't pause to think."

Roundhay Park and Faye McManoman win this year's Ayr Bronze Cup in the colours of Jim Gordon's company, Leeds Plywood and DoorsCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Tinkler recalled a man who "had the finances to have horses with high-profile trainers but he chose to have them with barrow boys".

He trained this year's Ayr Bronze Cup winner Roundhay Park for Gordon, as well as horses such as Bright Sun and Not On Your Nellie, a dual winner this season and named for the owner's granddaughter.

Watch back Roundhay Park's success in the Ayr Bronze Cup

"He had three horses with me every year for the thick end of thirty years," said Tinkler. "He never once asked when a horse was going to run and he never queried a jockey booking.

"He had the finances to have horses in training with high-profile trainers but he chose to have them with barrow boys, with the little workers."

Nigel Tinkler trained for the late Jim Gordon for nearly 30 years

Gordon's working life was dominated by his successful furniture import business but Tinkler remembered a man who remained very grounded.

Tinkler said: "The friends who knew him from when he didn't have a great deal are still his friends today, he was very loyal.

"I'll probably get owners as good as him but I'll never get a better one. He was a real good guy and will be very much missed by us all."