Longevity and laughter: the Alstons have been a credit to our sport

It was typical of Eric Alston that he should slip away from racing after all these years without any fanfare. The trainer's final runner Redrosezorro won at Catterick last week, but no fuss was made as the unassuming 78-year-old bowed out of a sport he had been involved in for several decades.

Just getting on with it has always been the philosophy for Eric and his wife Sue at their stable on the outskirts of Preston.

A few years back, I had the pleasure of spending an afternoon in their company at Edges Farm, recalling the mighty days of Reverence, Tedburrow and Stack Rock. It was a memorable visit in many ways.