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Potts' death will leave a massive hole in the Irish bloodstock market

Robbie Power with Ann and Alan Potts and groom Ashley Hussey after Sizing John's Cheltenham Gold Cup victory
Alan Potts: horses like Sizing John will continue to race in his colours until they retire, according to Jessica Harrington.Credit: Harry Trump (Getty Images)

No one could have envisaged the impact that a Yorkshire man’s trip to a relatively modest yard on the outskirts of Waterford city to see what turned out to be an injured horse this time 13 years ago would have on the Irish racing scene.

On November 28, 2004, Oscar India won a second point-to-point on the spin, and Alan Potts was duly pencilled in to visit trainer Henry de Bromhead to discuss a prospective purchase.

Before Potts arrived in Knockeen, though, Oscar India developed heat in a tendon. De Bromhead felt he had two choices. The first involved contacting Potts to relay that the horse was injured, which would have likely meant the wealthy potential owner not turning up.

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Ireland editor

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