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'Racing will miss him, he was a great man' - Ruby Walsh and Paul Nicholls lead tributes to owner John Hales after death aged 85

Team Protektorat celebrate after Sunday's Fleur de Lys Chase at Windsor
Owner John Hales celebrating Protektorat's win in the Fleur De Lys Chase at Windsor this monthCredit: Edward Whitaker

Major jump racing figures have paid eloquent tribute to John Hales, the owner of One Man, Azertyuiop and Neptune Collonges following his death on Thursday at the age of 85. 

Ruby Walsh described Hales as "a great man for the game", while longtime ally Paul Nicholls spoke of "the most fantastic, loyal owner and the most fantastic friend".

Nicholls enjoyed almost two decades of success with horses trained in Hales's distinctive yellow silks, spanning Azertyuiop's legendary battles with Moscow Flyer, the Supreme Hurdle triumphs of Noland and Al Ferof, and the last-gasp victory of Neptune Collonges in the Grand National. 

"Paul Barber was good friends with John and introduced him to me, I don’t know how many years ago," said Nicholls. "He became the most fantastic, loyal owner and the most fantastic friend. 

"I was lucky enough to enjoy lunch with him last week at Cheltenham when Monmiral ran. I’ve chatted to him several times during the week and he was looking forward to Kalif Du Berlais running at the weekend. He was still full of enthusiasm. He hadn’t been that well and I’m sure the horses kept him going."

Paul Nicholls and a jubilant John Hales after Neptune Collonges wins the Punchestown Gold Cup
Paul Nicholls and a jubilant John Hales after Neptune Collonges's victory in the Punchestown Gold CupCredit: Caroline Norris

"John could take the defeats, he knew that was all part of it, and he really enjoyed his successes, he knew how to celebrate. Having him the same win or lose certainly made my life a lot easier. 

"He was a big investor and he deserved all the success he got. He wore his heart on his sleeve and a lot of people did very well from that investment. We’ve had some wonderful, wonderful times."

 A high-class recruit from France, Azertyuiop was the second of three Champion Chase winners for Hales when he triumphed in 2004. The owner also won the prize with One Man in 1998 and Politologue in 2020.

Walsh, who was on board Azertyuiop and also scored on Noland and Al Ferof for Hales at the festival, said: "John was very passionate about the sport and about his horses. He was a lovely man and I liked that you knew exactly where you stood with him. I think he was a great man for horseracing and was a huge investor in the sport. He got great enjoyment out of it.

John Hales and Paul Nicholls are debriefed by Ruby Walsh after Neptunes Collonges wins the 2007 Punchestown Gold Cup
John Hales and Paul Nicholls are debriefed by Ruby Walsh after Neptune Collonges's victory in the 2007 Punchestown Gold CupCredit: Caroline Norris

Hales had enormous success with the Golden Bear toy company, which produced everything from the Teletubbies to the 2012 Olympic mascots, and Walsh said: "He even sorted me out with a few Christmas presents for the kids up and down the line.

"He’ll be missed by Pat and Lisa and the rest of his family. But racing will miss him too. It was great to see him at Cheltenham last Saturday and it’s sad to think he’s gone already." 



In recent years Hales enjoyed success in partnership with Sir Alex Ferguson, Peter Done and Ged Mason, with Protektorat landing the Ryanair Chase for his owners at last season's festival. 

Mason said: "John was a true gentleman, a family man, a horseman and a successful business man. I looked up to him as a fatherly figure alongside Sir Alex. We have been lucky enough to have shared in many memorable and special wins on the track.

"I will mostly miss the glint in John's eye, especially when Villa beat United or how much better they were doing. I enjoyed many great chats about horses and football along with Sir Alex that I will forever treasure. John will be madly missed by Pat, Lisa, Robert and the grandchildren.

Ged Mason (left to right), Dan Skelton, Sir Alex Ferguson and John Hales are all smiles after Protektorat's Betfair Chase win
Left to right: Ged Mason, Dan Skelton, Sir Alex Ferguson and John Hales are all smiles after Protektorat's Betfair Chase winCredit: John Grossick

"They don't make legends like John anymore and how he conducted himself was a credit to us all in the sport he so loved. We have all lost one of the great guys  His colours will fly high and we will win that Gold cup for you, John. Rest in peace my friend."

Olly Murphy was another to have benefited from the Hales family's support and said it had been "a huge honour" to train for him. 

"My father bought a lot of good horses for him, including Nolan, Al Ferof and Hermes Allen," said Murphy. "They don't come around often, people like him. 

"He loved his racing and to say he was the best person to train for is an understatement. He was the best loser and winner. We'd talk four or five times a week and sometimes four and five times a day.

"It was unbelievably sad to get the call this morning but he had a fantastic life and some unbelievable days racing. They're a great family and to get the chance to train horses in those colours was amazing. I watched horses in those silks growing up and it was a great honour."


John Hales CV

Full name John Richard Hales

Born Erdington, Birmingham, February 22, 1939

Family Father Harold Hales (switch-gear inspector); wife Pat Hales; daughter Lisa Hales (co-owner of Protektorat, Monmiral, L'Eau Du Sud)

Business Soft-toy manufacturer; chairman of Telford-based Golden Bear Holdings, with the licence to make Teletubbies

First winner One Man (trainer Gordon Richards) Ayr, November 12, 1993

First Pattern winner One Man (1994 Reynoldstown Novices' Chase)

Overall champion steeplechasers (RPRs) One Man (1995-96, 1997-98), Azertyuiop (2003-04)

Grand National winner Neptune Collonges (2012)

Queen Mother Champion Chase winners One Man (1998), Azertyuiop (2004), Politologue (2020)

King George VI Chase winner One Man (1996 twice)

Irish Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup winner (Leopardstown) Neptune Collonges (2009)

Punchestown Gold Cup winner Neptune Collonges (2007, 2008)

Tingle Creek Chase winner Politologue (2017, 2020)

Melling Chase winner Politologue (2018)

Betfair Chase winner Protektorat (2022)

Ryanair Chase winner Protektorat (2024)

Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup winner (Newbury) One Man (1994)

Paddy Power Gold Cup winner Al Ferof (2012)

Scottish Grand National winner Vicente (2016)

Other Grade 1 Cheltenham Festival winners Azertyuiop (2003 Arkle Challenge Trophy), Noland (2006 Supreme Novices' Hurdle), Al Ferof (2011 Supreme Novices' Hurdle)

Other Grade 1 winners One Man (1998 Ascot Chase), Noland (2006 Tolworth Hurdle, 2008 Punchestown Chase), Al Ferof (2011 Henry VIII Novices' Chase), Protektorat (2021 Manifesto Novices' Chase), Monmiral (2021 Anniversary Hurdle), Hermes Allen (2022 Challow Novices' Hurdle), L'Eau Du Sud (2024 Henry VIII Novices' Chase)

Other Cheltenham Festival winners Aux Ptits Soins (2015 Coral Cup), Ibis Du Rheu (2016 Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Hurdle), Monmiral (2024 Pertemps Hurdle Final)

Big-race winners owned in partnership Vicente, Protektorat, Monmiral, Hermes Allen, L'Eau Du Sud

Last winner Protektorat, Windsor, January 19, 2025

Highest-rated horses (RPRs) 179 One Man (1995 Tommy Whittle Chase), 179 Azertyuiop (four times), 178 Neptune Collonges (three times), 173 Al Ferof (2012 Paddy Power Gold Cup), 173 Politologue (three times), 172 Protektorat (three times)

Most prolific Grade 1 winners One Man (4), Politologue (4), Noland (3), Neptune Collonges (3), Protektorat (3)

Most prolific Pattern winners One Man (9), Azertyuiop (8), Neptune Collonges (8), Al Ferof (8), Politologue (8), Noland (5)

Cheltenham Festival wins 10

Other equine involvement Owner of international show-jumpers

Colours Yellow, red star; yellow sleeves, white armlets; yellow cap, red star

Compiled by John Randall

France correspondent

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