Arkle and Hennessy winning trainer Peter Bailey dies at the age of 81

Jumps trainer Peter Bailey, whose CV included victories in the Arkle, Whitbread and Hennessy Gold Cup, has died at the age of 81.

Bailey's career spanned 26 years, during which time he enjoyed a series of notable victories among a total of 403 winners. They included the 1974 Arkle with Canasta Lad, who was his best horse, and the 1976 Hennessy with Zeta's Son. Two years later Strombolus provided him with success in the Whitbread Gold Cup, now the bet365 Gold Cup.

Casamayor was another good chaser he trained, and Prince Rock was beaten a neck by Tied Cottage in the 1979 Irish Grand National.

After being assistant to Peter Walwyn, Bailey saddled his first winner in 1965 – Nivose at Wincanton – and his final victory came in 1991 with Greenwine at the same track.

Brendan Powell, the trainer and former jockey, said on Tuesday: "I rode most of Peter's for four or five years. He was a great man and great trainer, and was based where Seamus Mullins is near Salisbury.

"Canasta Lad would have been the best horse he had, but he was a bit before my time. I rode for Peter towards the end of his career. There was a good old horse called Tiger Ted, and the only time Princess Anne rode a winner over jumps was at Worcester when she beat me – I was second on him!"

Powell, now based in Lambourn, added: "Peter was what I'd call the last of the old-time trainers; he always did it the old-fashioned way.

"He always had big stamps of horses, chasing types and he was a proper jumps man. He had a lot of horses over the years and always trained a steady stream of winners.

"If you didn't know Peter you'd always say he was a grumpy old bugger. He was a bit like Captain [Tim] Forster in that way, but they were the best ones to ride for."

Funeral details will be announced in due course.

PETER BAILEY CV

Full name Peter Grenfell Bailey

Born June 16, 1937

Assistant to Peter Walwyn

Stables Hall Place, Sparsholt, Oxfordshire 1965-81; Springbottom Farm, Wilsford-cum-Lake, near Salisbury, Wiltshire 1981-91

First winner Nivose (ridden by Eddie Harty) Wincanton, August 26, 1965

Cheltenham Festival winners Hal's Farewell (1968 Grand Annual Chase), Canasta Lad (1974 Arkle Chase)

Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup winner Zeta's Son (1976)

Whitbread Gold Cup winner Strombolus (1978)

Cheltenham Trial Hurdle winner Canasta Lad (1971)

Christmas Hurdle winner Canasta Lad (1972)

Welsh Champion Hurdle winner Canasta Lad (1972, 1974)

Maghull Novices' Hurdle winner Taffy (1979)

Other big-race winners Canasta Lad (1972 John Skeaping Hurdle, 1974 Blue Circle Chase), Skryne (1976 Scilly Isles Novices' Chase, Castleford Chase), Zeta's Son (1976 Compton Chase, Badger Beer Chase, 1977 Anthony Mildmay Peter Cazalet Memorial Chase), The Bo-Weevil (1976 Reynoldstown Pattern Hurdle), Strombolus (1977 New Year's Day Hurdle, 1979 Tote Pattern Chase), Prince Rock (1978 Bass Chase, 1981 Graham-Reeves Chase), Dublin Express (1978 Page Three Chase), Hopeful Shot (1980 Triumph Hurdle Trial), Roadster (1982 Boxing Day Hurdle), Statesmanship (1983 Aurelius Hurdle)

Irish & Welsh Grand National runner-up Prince Rock (1979, 1980)

Last winner Greenwine, Wincanton, April 1, 1991

Highest position in trainers' table 12th in 1973-74

Most wins in a season 28 in 1973-74

Total career wins 403 (375 jumps, 28 Flat)

Compiled by John Randall

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