The man Nicholls passed: recalling Arthur Yates, the great 19th century trainer

Arthur Yates, who has just been replaced by Paul Nicholls among the ten winningmost trainers of all time in Britain, was the dominant National Hunt trainer in the late Victorian era.

From a wealthy family, he was a successful amateur rider before starting to train at Bishop's Sutton, Hampshire in 1872. Before his retirement in 1913 he won 2,950 races, nearly all over jumps.

He won the Grand National twice, with Roquefort (1885) and the great Cloister, who triumphed under a record 12st 7lb in 1893.