Nicky Henderson remembers close friend and Cheltenham Festival-winning owner

Nicky Henderson said a hole had been left in many lives following the death of owner-breeder Christopher Hanbury at the age of 78 on Tuesday.

Hanbury, survived by wife Bridget, their six children and 21 grandchildren, grew up in County Meath at his childhood home, which later became his Triermore Stud, and his time in the army resulted in a role as an equerry for the Sultan of Brunei.

A polo enthusiast, he was a longstanding owner with Henderson and Barry Hills. Among his best runners were Stormyfairweather, who landed two Cathcart Chases at the Cheltenham Festival, the prolific Jack The Giant, three-time Grade 1-winning chaser Captain Conan and Goodwood Group 3 winner Sent From Heaven.

Stormyfairweather under Mick FitzgeraldCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

"He was a very special person," said Henderson.

"The fun was the most important thing and our thoughts are with the family, who were large in numbers but so close-knit. The house was always full of fun, laughter and amazing hospitality.

"We've lost the most enormous friend any of us could have. He had horses with Barry too and we were having lunch only last week.

"He was as large as life and we were lucky together with some wonderful horses, but it was more than that.

"I'd known him forever because he married Bridget, the daughter of the remarkable Nan Birch, a legend in Lambourn who trained a horse called Ra Nova to win the Schweppes, which is now the Betfair Hurdle.

"Christopher was in the army and they spent time in Brunei, where he was with the Sultan before they came home and we got together again, having some spectacular times. His death has knocked a hole in everybody's life as he was one of the great men of this world. He loved his racing, as did Bridget. Paul Cole also trained for him and I have for as long as I can remember."

Many will remember Hanbury's prolific gelding Jack The GiantCredit: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

Hanbury's string raced in either his distinctive yellow silks, the maroon of his wife or the pink of Triermore Stud.

Henderson added: "Stormy Fairweather was probably the star of the show and I think he might have been their favourite – he was a lovely character – but we had some brilliant times with Jack The Giant, who started life on the Flat with Barry and found his way to Seven Barrows.

"One of the best days was at Punchestown in 2019 when O O Seven won, but you wouldn't forget Royal Irish Hussar and Irish Hussar, who were both good horses, and Captain Conan, who won a Tolworth and three Grade 1s over fences.

"He had great success breeding as well and had a couple of yearlings out of Jacqueline Quest who went for more than a million at the sales."

Captain Conan: a classy chaser for the Hanbury familyCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

From Jacqueline Quest, Hanbury also bred Line Of Duty, a Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf winner for Godolphin in 2018, and Onassis, who sported the Triermore pink when landing the Sandringham Handicap at Royal Ascot two years ago.

New England Stud's Peter Stanley consigned a number of the progeny for Hanbury and said: "Christopher was a wonderful man, a great raconteur who loved his racing, and breeding a Breeders' Cup winner gave him a lot of pleasure.

"The whole thing is very sad, but he lived a full life and had a great ride on the way."