Grand National winner Neptune Collonges leads the way as top racing figures celebrate the life of John Hales

It was fitting that the funeral procession for popular owner John Hales, who died last month aged 85, was led by his beloved Grand National winner Neptune Collonges.

Leading figures from across the racing world, including owners Sir Alex Ferguson and Ged Mason, as well as trainers Paul Nicholls, Dan Skelton and Olly Murphy, were in attendance at St Mary Magdalene's Church in Shropshire to celebrate the life of Hales, whose deep love of the jumps began with One Man, who was his first winner in 1993.

Trained in Cumbria by Gordon Richards, One Man won the King George in 1995 and 1996 before winning the 1998 Champion Chase, a race Hales won again with Azertyuiop (2004) and Politologue (2020). Brian Harding, who was on board when One Man scored at the Cheltenham Festival, was among the many who gathered to pay their respects.

In recent years, Hales was a regular at the big meetings and enjoyed success in partnership with Ferguson, Mason and Peter Done, with Protektorat landing the Ryanair Chase for the owners at last season's festival. He is trained by Skelton, who described the owner as someone who lived an "extraordinary life that was full of love for his horses". 

Racing was always a family affair for Hales, with wife Pat and daughter Lisa often by his side at the races. Lisa was the co-owner of two festival winners last March in Monmiral and Protektorat. The eulogy was read by members of his family, including his grandchildren, who each recalled fond memories of being taken to the racecourse.

In his professional life, Hales was best known for his success as the co-founder of the Telford-based Golden Bear toy company, which produced merchandise from major children's shows such as the Teletubbies, the Basil Brush Show, Thomas the Tank Engine and In The Night Garden. 

This was reflected on the front cover of the order of the service, which featured an image of Hales smiling alongside three Teletubbies under a picture, quite fittingly, of one of his many great greys in full flight wearing his distinctive bright yellow silks with a red star.