Gold Cup-winning trainer Mark Bradstock dies just days after poignant final win
Tributes have been paid to Cheltenham Gold Cup-winning trainer Mark Bradstock, who has died at the age of 66.
The Lambourn-based handler and his wife Sara prepared Coneygree to become the first novice in 41 years to take the iconic race in 2015. Bradstock's biggest winner helped launch the career of jockey Nico de Boinville, who paid his respects with dozens of racing followers on social media.
The sad news comes just over a week after the trainer sent out his last runner Mr Vango, a 60-length winner of Exeter's Devon National. It was Bradstock's first success for 450 days and the horse holds a National Hunt Chase entry at Prestbury Park's upcoming Festival.
De Boinville wrote on X, formerly Twitter : “Thinking of the Bradstock family. I owe them all so much, they played an integral part in getting me going."
Mattie Batchelor, who guided Coneygree to a pair of Grade Two successes over hurdles, posted: “Thank you very much for the memories!!!! We had some great times and more importantly some great laughs!!!!! Condolences to Sara, Alfie (son) and Lily (daughter).”
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Jockey Tom Scudamore rode for the stable early on in his career and said: "They are a fantastic racing family. Everybody will be very upset by this. The good horses he had through his hands he certainly didn't let down. He was a remarkable man, great fun to be around and he'll be sorely missed."
Nico de Boinville and Mark Bradstock pictured with the Gold Cup (Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images)Batchelor teamed up with the Bradstocks in the 2011 Hennessy Gold Cup hero at Newbury, riding Coneygree's brother Carruthers, an offspring of bargain buy Plaid Maid.
Step Back provided the stable with another memorable moment in Sandown's 2018 bet365 Gold Cup. Mr Vango carries the same Cracker and Smudge colours and could run in this year's renewal.
Bradstock told the Mirror about the stayer's comprehensive performance on February 23, with jockey Ben Jones aboard.
The celebrations began when Coneygree returned to the famous winners enclosure (Joe Giddens/PA)"You don't see many horses win by that sort of distance," he said. "He's over 18 hands and conditions weren't a problem for him. It was very exciting, we are over the moon."
Bradstock will be fondly remembered for his campaigning of Coneygree, a son of Plaid Maid who cost just £3,000. He sent the inexperienced eight-year-old for Cheltenham's feature prize after three successes over fences, which included graded chases named after Gold Cup legends Kauto Star and Denman.
Coneygree has remained with the Bradstocks since his 2019 retirement and has recently taken part in a team chase at the age of 17.
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