Stylist in the saddle and 'extraordinary trainer' Andy Turnell dies aged 73

Andy Turnell, the most stylish jump jockey of his generation and a key player from the golden era of 1970s hurdlers thanks to his association with Birds Nest, has died at the age of 73.

Noted for riding daringly short in the irons and blessed with an impeccable sense of balance, Turnell went on to succeed his father Bob as a successful trainer.

He was renowned for his training of chasers and claimed a Queen Mother Champion Chase with Katabatic in 1991 and the Hennessy Gold Cup courtesy of Cogent two years later.

Andy Turnell with trademark short irons aboard 1975 Hennessy Gold Cup winner April SeventhCredit: Gerry Cranham

His greatest triumph as a trainer was sending out Maori Venture to land the 1987 Grand National, bringing to fruition a lifelong ambition for his 92-year-old owner Jim Joel.

The National had been Turnell's greatest aim as a jockey and the best of his 13 attempts was when third on Charles Dickens behind Red Rum in 1974.

Steve Knight rode as second rider to Bob Turnell and continued the association as stable jockey to his son, steering Maori Venture to that famous defeat of The Tsarevich; not that Andy was at all convinced that his charge was right for Aintree.

Jim Joel was on holiday in South Africa, but flew back to greet his Grand National victor Maori Venture at Andy Turnell's East Hendred stables in OxfordshireCredit: Mirrorpix

Knight recommended the National to Joel's racing manager after winning the Mandarin Chase at Newbury.

"Next morning Andy told me the old boy had said we could put him in but we could always take him out," recalled Knight. "Andy thought I was mad. I said we'd either fall before the third or get round.

"Even the night before we walked round and Andy said: 'you can still change your mind,' because we had Tracys Special in as well."

Knight added: "He could train moderate horses to win decent races, like his dad. Maybe it was just a gift. In all the years I rode for him we never had one cross word or falling out."

Andy Turnell and Birds Nest en route to success in the 1979 Christmas Hurdle at KemptonCredit: Cranham

To a generation of racing fans who grew up in the era of Sea Pigeon and Night Nurse, it is Turnell's rides aboard Birds Nest that will stick in the memory, the pair twice making the frame in a remarkable six Champion Hurdle appearances.

"I rode out Birds Nest all the time," said Knight, who enjoyed particular success with the horse in Newcastle's Fighting Fifth Hurdle. "I often asked Andy which was the best horse he ever rode and he always stood by Tree Tangle. I thought Birds Nest would have been the best.

"He used to ride so short you used to think to yourself: 'I can’t wait to get on that horse, I'll improve it 7lb.' But you could never improve it one ounce. Horses just ran for him.

"As a trainer he stood by you all the time, even if owners were a little bit against you. We had a lot of fun."

Andy Turnell trained Maori Venture to win the 1987 Grand National and also sent Katabatic out to win the Queen Mother Champion Chase at CheltenhamCredit: Edward Whitaker

Racing broadcaster and journalist Luke Harvey rode for Turnell and recalls him as a brave horseman who was fiercely loyal to his jockeys and staff.

"He trained on instinct, he didn't do things in a conventional way," said Harvey. "He'd look at a horse in the morning and say that needs two canters, or we'd think one was a bit burly and he would say no, only give him one canter today.

"His results were phenomenal with a Grand National, a Queen Mother Champion Chase, Cheltenham Festival winners and the rest. He was an extraordinary trainer.

"He rode out in a shirt, tie and cavalry twill breeches, along with the most polished boots you'd ever seen. He rode out two or three lots a day."

Luke Harvey says of Andy Turnell: 'He trained on instinct, he didn't do things in a conventional way'Credit: Edward Whitaker

Harvey added: "He was a lovely man. There was a novice chaser I used to ride that kept falling and Andy started riding him every day, the same length he used to ride Birds Nest.

"He used to turn his cap round and wing up over the fences and he said 'I'm not going to let you school him, he's learning to find a leg. I don't want you to lose your confidence on him'.

"He was as brave a man as you would find and fiercely loyal to Simon McNeill and myself. There aren't many people that you really respect, who you work under but you also really like.

"He was a miles better rider than 99 per cent of the jockeys he put up which must have been frustrating for him."

ANDY TURNELL CV

Full name Andrew Turnell

Born Clifton, Bristol, August 27, 1948

Father Bob Turnell (trainer of Pas Seul, Salmon Spray, Birds Nest)

Apprenticed to Bob Turnell, Ogbourne Maisey, Wiltshire

First winner Deck Quoit on Flat, Worcester, September 7, 1963

First winner over jumps Mayfair Bill, Wincanton, December 3, 1964

Fighting Fifth Hurdle winner Birds Nest (1977 & 1979)

Bula Hurdle winner Birds Nest (1977, 1978 & 1980)

Christmas Hurdle winners Tree Tangle (1974), Beacon Light (1977), Birds Nest (1979)

Scottish Champion Hurdle winners Birds Nest (1979 & 1981), Secret Ballot (1980)

Royal Doulton Hurdle winners Beacon Light (1979), Secret Ballot (1982)

Black & White Whisky Gold Cup winner Tree Tangle (1976)

Mecca Bookmakers' (Tingle Creek) Chase winner Tree Tangle (1977)

Welsh Champion Chase winner Summerville (1975 & 1976)

Mackeson Gold Cup winner Bruslee (1974)

Hennessy Gold Cup winner April Seventh (1975)

Massey-Ferguson Gold Cup winner Arctic Bow (1972)

Great Yorkshire Chase winner Cuckolder (1974)

Scottish Grand National winner The Fossa (1967)

Cheltenham Festival winners Mayfair Bill (1965 County Hurdle), Charter Flight (1970 National Hunt Handicap Chase), Cuckolder (1974 National Hunt Handicap Chase), Summerville (1975 Mildmay of Flete Chase), Beacon Light (1976 Champion Novices' Hurdle), Snowshill Sailor (1980 Mildmay of Flete Chase)

Champion Hurdle runners-up Chorus (1968), Birds Nest (1976)

Placed mount in Grand National Charles Dickens (3rd to Red Rum & L'Escargot, 1974)

Total wins as jump jockey in Britain 482 (1964-82) plus 12 on Flat

Stables as trainer Ogbourne Maisey, Marlborough 1982-84; East Hendred, Wantage 1984-98; Sandhutton, Thirsk 1998-2000; Malton 2000-05; Broad Hinton, Swindon 2005-15

First winner as trainer Pay Freeze, Sandown, November 5, 1982

Grand National winner Maori Venture (1987)

Queen Mother Champion Chase winner Katabatic (1991)

Other Cheltenham Festival winners Tracys Special (1984 National Hunt Handicap Chase), Katabatic (1990 Grand Annual Chase), Old Bridge (1996 Mildmay of Flete Chase)

Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup winner Cogent (1993)

Tote Gold Trophy winner Squire Silk (1996)

Swinton Hurdle winner Blue Bajan (2008)

Other big-race winners Tracys Special (1984 Whitbread Trial Chase), Maori Venture (1984 & 1987 Mandarin Chase), Katabatic (1991 Marston Moor Chase, 1992 Aintree Chase, Silver Trophy Chase, Castleford Chase), Country Member (1993 Agfa Diamond Chase), Squire Silk (1997 Maghull Novices' Chase), Jelani (2002 July Trophy Stakes)

In the frame in the Derby Jelani (100-1) 4th to High Chaparral, 2002

Last winner as trainer Breezy Kin, Stratford, September 14, 2015

Total wins as trainer 494 (1982-2015) - 389 jumps, 105 Flat
Compiled by John Randall