Scottish Champion Hurdle-winning trainer Dick Allan dies aged 74

The racing community on both sides of the Borders is mourning the death of former trainer Dick Allan, who has died at the age of 74 following a long battle with cancer.

Kelso-born Allan saddled more than 260 winners, including Pat's Jester to win the 1987 Bula Hurdle and 1988 Scottish Champion Hurdle. Owned by Geoff Adam, who now has Aye Right in training with Harriet Graham, Pat's Jester was also top class over fences and was second to The Fellow in the 1992 King George VI Chase.

Clay County was another high-class chaser for Allan, breaking the two-mile chase course record at Ayr and landing the Grade 1 Northumberland Gold Cup in 1991 at Newcastle.

Allan, who rode winners over jumps, also enjoyed success as a trainer on the Flat and struck with the likes of Sunbird and Kharif from his stables just over the border at Cornhill-on-Tweed and, more recently, at St Boswells near Melrose.

After starting out with trainers Bobby Fairbairn, Wilf Crawford and Gordon Richards, he took out a permit during the 1976-77 season and had his final runners at the start of the last decade.

Allan courted controversy in 1991 when, along with jockey Brian Storey, he received a six-month ban over the running and riding of Flowing River at Kelso.

He is survived by two grown-up children, Kevin and Lorna, and his ex-wife Beverley said: "It's very sad but it was a blessing as he was very ill in the end. The Injured Jockeys Fund organised a trip for him to Perth recently and he really enjoyed his day – he seemed like his old self chatting to all the jockeys and people he knew.

"He loved Perth, and Hexham too, but Kelso was probably his favourite course. It was there that he had his first winner as a jockey, his first winner under a permit and his first winner with a full licence."

Funeral arrangements are to be announced in due course.

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