Tegg, Dai

Born in Porthcawl on June 22, 1966, Dai was already competing in flapper races when just eleven. On leaving school, he found work with Derek Haydn Jones at Pontypridd and had his first ride on a horse called Carreg-Wennol at Warwick in 1984.

Dai was still two years off his first winner: this came on 33/1 shot Seasoned Embers at Devon & Exeter on 26 May, 1986.

He rode out his claim in a season and a half but was still claiming 7 lb when going close to a 1,064-1 double at Chepstow that would have put the little village of Pontyclun on the map.

First, he won on Rock Candy, a 40/1 chance that all other jockeys had turned down, then beat all except Fort Rupert on the 25/1 shot Kamag in the Barclays Unicorn Handicap Hurdle.

Dai had three rides in the Grand National: in 1989 he rode 300/1 shot Rausal. They fell when still  going well three out.

In 1991, Dai worked as second jockey (behind Norman Williamson) for John Edwards.

Dai rode the stable's Forest Ranger in that year's National, finishing 15th.

On Grand National day, 1992, Dai won the opening race on Flakey Dove, but his luck deserted him in the big race. Once again riding Forest Ranger, he trailed in 12th of the 22 finishers, having made a pig's ear of the fourth last.

It was during the 1992-93 season that Dai realized that all was not well. Persistently he got nose bleeds which he chose to ignore then, more seriously, he had blood coming from out of his ears.

The alarm bells were ringing yet 'like a prat I just wiped it away and pretended it didn't exist.' 

Dai's own words.

The brain haemorrhage, when it came - on the Sunday morning before Cheltenham - was devastating, and caused total paralysis.

Lying prostate on the floor, he remembers his wife crying and cupping his head in her lap, urging him to wake up.

Somehow, as feeling returned to the top half of his body, he crawled to to top of the stairs and allowed himself to roll down.

'I had to get out of there' he recalled later. 'It was so hot and I was sweating all over.'

He was put in an ambulance, immediately connected to several machines, and rushed to hospital, critically ill.

When, on Champion Hurdle day, news of his condition filtered through to Cheltenham, Peter Scudamore, speaking on behalf of all the jockeys, said: 'A lot of people were thinking about Dai Tegg before the race. It puts all this into its rightful place.'

Then began the long process of recovery. Dai endured two further operations on his brain to remove blood clots - either one which could have finished him. Eventually all the various machines attached to him were switched off to see if he could survive on his own.

Fourteen weeks later, he was allowed to leave hospital. He weighed 6 st 2 lb.

Unable to cope, his wife walked out on him shortly after his return from hospital.

He was in a bad place, yet one thought kept him going. He had been promised that the ride on Flakey Dove was still his when he got back.

Dai began training and going for runs. A mile one day, two miles the next. 

Eventually, he went to London to apply for his licence. He was turned down on the spot.

Deep in his heart he knew he would be, but it was still a bitter blow. He broke down and cried.

'I wasn't the best jockey in the world, nor the worst...but it was all that I had.' he said.

I now fast forward Dai's story to early 1998.

A new wife, Karen, in situ and - the Injured Jockeys' Fund having stepped in with financial aid - Dai took up the tenancy of The Horseshoe.

Dai had received many good luck messages whilst in hospital.

One read 'Best Wishes. Richard Davis.'

Shortly after, Richard Davis was killed in a racefall at Southwell.