Peter Beaumont - ‘A great trainer, man of his word and complete gentleman’

The 85-year-old, who saddled Jodami to win the blue riband race in 1993, died peacefully in his sleep on Monday in Easingwold.

The last Yorkshire trainer to win the Gold Cup, he was a farmer at heart who was steeped in the countryside.

Four-times champion jockey Richard Johnson said: “Very sad to hear Peter Beaumont has passed away. A true gentleman of our sport.”

Legendary rider and trainer Jonjo O’Neill, a close family friend, posted: “A truly wonderful gentleman and brilliant trainer.”

Gordon Elliott, who has won the last two Grand Nationals with Tiger Roll, added: “A great trainer and a gentleman.”

Former National-winning jockey Brendan Powell tweeted: “RIP to one of the nicest men I ever met, a brilliant trainer and a good friend.”

Beaumont, who only took out a licence under rules in 1986, also remained closely involved in the sport through his daughter Anthea Morshead – racing manager at York Racecourse – and grandson Henry, who was a jump jockey.

Both say they have drawn comfort from the heart-warming tributes – and Beaumont’s association with Jodami who dominated three-mile steeplechasing in the mid-1990s.

After winning the Gold Cup, Jodami was narrowly denied by The Fellow 12 months later.

But the strapping steeplechaser did win three successive Irish Gold Cups – a great feat – and was ridden by Mark Dwyer, from Malton, who said: “It’s very sad.

“Peter was a great man and we had some great days together with Jodami. Peter did a great job with him. He was a very straightforward horse, but he did take a lot of getting fit and Peter did brilliantly to have him at his peak for the days that mattered at Leopardstown and Cheltenham.”

Among other key victories for Beaumont, who retired in January, 2010, were Young Kenny in the Greenalls Grand National Trial, the Midlands and Scottish Grand Nationals in early 1999 and Hussard Collonges in the Royal & SunAlliance Chase at Cheltenham in 2002.

Dwyer added: “He was very easy to ride for. If anything needed to be said he’d say it, but more often than not he’d leave it to you. Anthea played a big part as well – they were a great team.”

Russ Garritty also enjoyed plenty of big days in the saddle for Beaumont, and said: “Peter was a great trainer and on top of that a man of his word and a complete gentleman.

“I had some great times with him, winning the Becher Chase at Aintree on Young Kenny, the big handicap chase at Haydock (Tommy Whittle) on Bobby Grant and the SunAlliance (RSA) Chase on Hussard Collonges. I think he’s probably the last northern-based horse to go down there and win the SunAlliance.

“There were some good days, but, to be honest, every day riding for someone like Peter was a highlight. My thoughts are with Anthea and the rest of his family.”