'She really was an inspiration' - racing pays its respects to Sue Bradburne

Patience, personal care and attention to detail – those were some of the qualities highlighted in the address read by BBC racing correspondent Cornelius Lysaght at the funeral of former trainer Sue Bradburne on Wednesday.

Four hundred people, including Nick Alexander, Jessica Harrington, Lucy Normile, Hazel Peplinski and Tessa Greatrex, attended the service at Monimail Church, near Cupar, Fife, for Bradburne, who died last month aged 70 after an 18-month battle with leukaemia.

Alexander said: “It was a wonderful service in beautiful Scottish spring sunshine. There were lovely readings from her children and grandchildren, and Cornelius delivered the eulogy."

Sue Bradburne: died last month after an 18-month battle with leukaemiaCredit: Jon Winter

The trainer added: “Sue had been part of my life ever since I was a small child. She rode as an amateur for my father Cyril, and when she retired I took over her horses and a few of her owners. She was always a huge help.

“Sue was so incredibly tough. She wouldn’t let 18 months of leukaemia slow her down, and was even at Cheltenham last month. She really was an inspiration.”

Bradburne’s first winner was Sonsie Mo in a Sedgefield novice hurdle in February 1989, ridden by Richard Fahey.

She sent out many runners ridden by her husband Johnny, from whom she took over training at the family's stables at Ladybank in Fife in 1988. She also saddled winners ridden by her children Mark and Lorna, both of whom carved out careers in the racing world.

Bradburne never had more than a dozen horses under her supervision, but went on to train 170 winners, including Lochiel in the Cumberland Plate, before retiring in 2012.

Stable stars included 1999 Grand National runner-up Blue Charm, General Chandos, Off The Bru, Chergan and Jet Master.

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