'˜A grand man who will be badly missed' - Ben Curtis leads tributes to Alan Swinbank
The 72-year-old became one of the country’s foremost dual purpose trainers, saddling nearly 800 winners after taking out in a licence in 2001.
Riders at York Racecourse wore black armbands yesterday in tribute to the genial Swinbank who will be remembered for his handling of top Group-race performers Collier Hill and Turbo Linn.
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Hide AdCurtis developed a fruitful association with Swinbank, riding over 50 winners for him, and said: “When I came over from Ireland when things dried up, the reason I made the move over was because of Alan.
“We had lots of good days and winning the Cumberland Plate on Kinema a few years ago was a real highlight.
“He loved winners at York and in the north of England, but he was also a hell of a man to buy a horse. You could follow him around at the sales and you wouldn’t go far wrong, as he had great judgement and great knowledge on breeding. He was a grand man and will be badly missed.”
Born in Sedgefield, Swinbank hailed from a farming family and learned his trade with, among others, legendary National Hunt trainer Arthur Stephenson.
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Hide AdHe was renowned for turning his classy National Hunt horses into Pattern contenders on the Flat.
Collier Hill developed from a bumper and hurdles performer into a three-time Group One winner.
He won the 2005 Irish St Leger before going on to claim glory in the Canadian International at Woodbine and the Hong Kong Vase at Sha Tin the following year.
Turbo Linn landed a Listed bumper at Aintree in 2007 before progressing to win that year’s Lancashire Oaks.
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Hide AdSwinbank was also instrumental in helping Brian Hughes to become established as the North’s top jump jockey.
Classic-winning handler Ralph Beckett was among those to pay tribute to Swinbank on Twitter, recounting their early days in the training ranks.
He said: “RIP Alan Swinbank. Did the trainers course with him, and from then on he used to tell folk we were at school together.”
Renowned jumps handler Jonjo O’Neill was another to offer his condolences.
He said: “Very sad to hear Alan Swinbank has died. A good friend and brilliant trainer. His family are in our thoughts.”