Disney riding dream ends with gallantry for amputee

AMPUTEE Guy Disney had to settle for an honourable third on Ballyallia Man as he created history by becoming the first person to ride in a steeplechase with a prosthetic leg in the Royal Artillery Gold Cup at Sandown.

Captain Disney, 31, was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade while on patrol in Helmand Province and had his leg amputated below the knee. He rides in point-to-points but can now add another first to his many achievements.

The race was won by Cowards Close whose pilot Lance Bombardier Jody Sole said: “Guy is a brilliant fellow, he rode in this race before his accident. Ruby Walsh went up to him in the weighing room as he was interested about the stirrup he’d had made. Why can’t we have more like him? There’s nothing to say we can’t.”