'She was a wonderful lady' - Newmarket mourns death of Julie Cecil aged 80

Julie Cecil, the former wife of Sir Henry Cecil and a popular Newmarket trainer in her own right, died at the age of 80 on Wednesday morning.

The daughter of great trainer Sir Noel Murless, Cecil was the first wife of Sir Henry and played a crucial role in her former husband's success, with Sir Henry training Derby winners Slip Anchor and Reference Point, fillies' Triple Crown heroine Oh So Sharp, outstanding milers Bolkonski and Kris, and top-class stayers Le Moss and Ardross during their marriage, which lasted from 1966 to 1990.

Following her divorce from Sir Henry, Cecil set up training in her own right at Southgate Stables on Hamilton Road and saddled the first of her 190 wins as a trainer when Golan Heights won at Newmarket in April 1991.

The best horse she trained was Alderbrook, who won the Group 2 Prix Dollar in 1994 before going on to win the Champion Hurdle for Kim Bailey in 1995, while she also trained smart performers such as Gneiss, Paster Noster and Dark Den, who was her biggest winner over jumps when winning the Free Handicap Hurdle in 1994.

Cecil gave up her licence in 1998 and spent her retirement living in a cottage in Newmarket until her death.

Trainer William Jarvis worked for the Cecils at Warren Place between 1979 and 1984 and paid an emotional tribute to a "truly special person".

He said: "When I worked for Sir Henry she really was his right-hand person. I'm very lucky to have known her for as long as I did. I couldn't speak highly enough of her and it all comes from the heart.

William Jarvis: 'I'm very lucky to have known her for as long as I did. I couldn't speak highly enough of her.'Credit: Edward Whitaker

"There were very few like her. Covid knocked her badly because she really was a people's person. She loved seeing people and entertaining. It was tricky for her and I regret not seeing her more in the last few years.

"She left a lot of happy memories with people in Newmarket and beyond. She deserved everything nice that was said about her because she was a truly special person."

Jarvis also recalled how she was able to help start his career in racing, which has seen him train Group 1 winners Grand Lodge and Lady Bowthorpe, during a trip to Goodwood when he was 14.

"She was probably the reason I got the job with Sir Henry," he added. "When we travelled down to Goodwood she said to him, 'Gosh, what a lovely, charming young man Ryan Jarvis's son is, I think we ought to give him a job one day.' I wasn't charming but it was nice of her to have said that!

"She was a very decent trainer too. I remember galloping Grand Lodge with Gneiss and after she retired she very kindly sent me a few horses; one called Two Clubs went on to win a Listed race in France.

"We had a lot of fun days, she had a colourful sense of humour which was all meant in the right way. She was a wonderful lady."

Steve 'Yarmy' Dyble, who worked under Cecil at Warren Place in the 1970s and 1980s, said: "It's sad news. Julie and Henry were a great team at Warren Place and it was a pleasure to work for them.

"'Madam', as we called her, used to ride a lead horse called Fool's Mate and if you could ever get to her you knew you were on a good one."

Julie Cecil was a popular figure in Newmarket and the racing worldCredit: Edward Whitaker

Terry Kent rode winners for Cecil when she was training in her own right and paid tribute to her handling of Alderbook before his big-race glories over jumps for Bailey.

He said: "It was a bit of an injustice at the time as I remember as Julie made that horse. I rode Julie a good few winners over jumps but both personally and professionally she did so much for me and I owe her so much.

"What I remember about her most was her mischievous sense of humour which she kept to the end, she was just a wonderful person. My thoughts are with her family."

Cecil leaves behind two children, Katie and Noel, from her marriage to Sir Henry.

Julie Cecil factfile

Full name Julia Cecil (nee Murless)

Born Brecongill Stables, Agglethorpe with Coverham, near Middleham, North Yorkshire, February 14, 1942

Father Sir Noel Murless, champion trainer nine times

Husband Henry Cecil; during their marriage (1966-90) the future knight was champion trainer eight times and his champions included Bolkonski, Wollow, Buckskin, Kris, Le Moss, Ardross, Diesis, Slip Anchor, Oh So Sharp, Reference Point, Indian Skimmer, Diminuendo and Old Vic

Children Katie and Noel Cecil

First winner as owner Meerschaum, Brighton, September 18, 1957

First winner as rider Fools Mate, Beverley, July 7, 1979

Joint-champion lady rider on Flat 1984 (five wins)

Total wins as rider 10 (1979-84)

Stables as trainer Southgate, Hamilton Road, Newmarket 1991-98

First winner as trainer Golan Heights, Newmarket, April 18, 1991

First winner over jumps Aremef, Stratford, February 6, 1993

Dual Group winners Alderbrook (1994 Select Stakes, Prix Dollar), Kingfisher Mill (1997 King Edward VII Stakes, Cumberland Lodge Stakes)

Other Group winners Gneiss (1994 Jersey Stakes dead-heat), Pater Noster (1994 Premio Ribot), Restructure (1996 The Minstrel Stakes)

Listed winners Ninja Dancer (1991 Autumn Stakes), Pater Noster (1993 Prix Massine, 1994 Prix Phil Drake), Alderbrook (1994 Festival Stakes), Mary Hinge (1994 Sandy Lane Stakes), Restructure (1995 Darley Stakes), Two Clubs (1998 Doncaster Stakes)

Big-handicap winners on Flat Cambrian (1992 Autumn Handicap), Lombardic (1995 Old Newton Cup), Restructure (1995 Food Brokers' Trophy), Mozambique (1998 Spring Mile)

Big-race winner over jumps Dark Den (1994 Free Handicap Hurdle)

Last winner Two Clubs, Doncaster Stakes, Doncaster, October 24, 1998

Most wins in a season 30 in 1992 (Flat)

Total wins as trainer 190 (168 Flat, 22 jumps)

Compiled by John Randall