Brian Fletcher

1947 - 2017

Having shared two Grand National victories together, you would think that jockey and trainer would be the best of friends.

Not so with the connections of Red Rum; after winning for the second time on the great horse, jockey Brian Fletcher was unceremoniously sacked by trainer Ginger McCain. Theirs was a strictly professional relationship, their dislike of each other well buried beneath Red Rum's victories.

Born on May 18, 1947, Fletcher's riding tactics and philosophy were simple: 'Always be confident. Hack around the first circuit, towards the outside to avoid trouble, then crack on second time.'

It worked three times: on Red Alligator in 1968, when Fletcher was just 19, and on Red Rum in 1973 and 1974, when he became only the second jockey that century to record a triple success. Jack Anthony was the other.

Then came Newcastle, Autumn 1975. Fletcher, riding Red Rum, was beaten for second place by a short head: McCain thought he could have tried harder.

Fletcher then informed the press that Red Rum was no longer the horse of old, that he no longer gave the jockey a good 'feel'.

McCain was 'spitting blood' at this. Later, in a phone call, he informed Fletcher that he would not be riding the horse again. Fletcher took the news very personally and the conversation came to an abrupt end.

The two men never spoke to each other again.

The Red Rum story for Fletcher almost didn't happen - he was sidelined for 10 months after sustaining a skull fracture in 1972. 'I had to go to Portman Square three times before I got my licence back,' he said.

Strangely, he does not regard either of Red Rum's victories in the Grand National as the best race of his career, but instead plumps for the Aintree legend's triumph in the Scottish Grand National of 1974.

Brian attended Barnard Castle Grammar School, Teesdale, Co Durham, and - even before leaving - was competing at flapper meetings.

Then, as a sixteen year old, he 'went legitimate', joining the Bishop Auckland trainer Denys Smith.

His first season, 1964-65, yielded a modest 3 winners from twenty rides. However, such was his progress that, at the age of 19, he found himself entusted to ride Red Alligator in the 1967 Grand National. Brian had already scored twice on the horse and looked forward to a big run.

The 1967 National needs no introduction to any serious racing follower. Foinavon won (if that be the right word) from Honey End with Brian and Red Alligator back in third. John & Red Alligator had cleared the 23rd fence at the third attempt.

The pair made no mistake the following year, storming home by twenty lengths from Moidore's Token (Barry Brogan) and Different Class, owned by Hollywood actor Gregory Peck, who attended the meeting.

Having also finished second in the jockeys' championship that year with 70 wins, Brian could be forgiven for thinking that he'd reached the summit of his career. He was not to know that Red Rum lurked just around the corner.

The following year, despite a 13 lb hike in the weights, Red Alligator was made the 13/2 favourite. He fell, and fell again in 1970.

In 1971, Brian came down on The Inventor.

In 1972, at Teeside Racecourse, Brian suffered a horrendous injury during a novices' chase.

He lay unconscious for ten days with severe head injuries. He had also broken his arm

His racing career was - it seemed - over, then - defying medical advice - Brian stubbornly returned to the racecourse just seven months later.

He was due a change of luck and it arrived in spades when Tommy Stack was unavailable to ride a gelding for Ginger McCain.

The name of the gelding was Red Rum.

Ginger invited Brian to ride and the rest, as they say, is history.

He was heartbroken to have lost the ride on the dual National winner: he then lost his appetite for the game.

Medically, he was in a mess. His skull-cracking fall at Teeside had left him with blackouts, fading memory, slurred speech and acute headaches.

Then, driving home one day in 1976 from Uttoxeter, he blacked out.

This time he did heed medical advice, and, on August 9, promptly retired.

He began to farm sheep and breed Welsh Cobs from a small-holding near Bishop Auckland, a few miles from his birthplace in Staindrop.

Later, he moved to Carmarthenshire, where he lived with his partner, Irene.

Considerately, he donated his National trophies to the Aintree Museum along with the saddle worn by the immortal Red Rum.

Brian Fletcher died on Thursday 12 January, 2017.

Grand National winners: Red Alligator (1968), Red Rum (1973, 1974)

Other big winners:

1967: Kirk and Kirk Handicap Chase – Sixty Nine

1968: Great Yorkshire Handicap Chase – Sixty Nine

1968: Gloucestershire Hurdle (Div 1) – King Cutler

1971: Fighting Fifth Hurdle – Dondieu

1974: Scottish Grand National – Red Rum

Brian first came to prominence at Aintree when he steered Red Alligator to third place in the famous renewal won by Foinavon in 1967, when just a 19-year-old.

He made no mistake the following year on the Denys Smith-trained Red Alligator and went on to become part of Aintree folklore for his wins on Ginger McCain's Red Rum.

The Jockey Club, owners of Aintree, tweeted: "Deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Brian Fletcher, an @AintreeRaces legend. Our condolences to his family and friends."

The National story of Red Rum began back in 1973 when he caught the gallant Australian chaser Crisp in the final strides of one of the most thrilling finishes in the race's history.

But for Fletcher, the drama began to unfold two fences from the winning post.

He saw Crisp flash his tail, and with the confidence born of having already been a National winner with Red Alligator, Fletcher crouched lower in the saddle.

Red Rum went on to become the most successful horse ever to race over the daunting Aintree fences, teaming up once more with Fletcher the following year, although Tommy Stack was on board for 'Rummy's' third win in 1977.

A glittering career also saw Fletcher win the Scottish National as well as finish runner-up to Josh Gifford in the jockeys' title race. He retired in 1977.

Recalling the worst moment, which was when he lost the ride on Red Rum - "I was devastated," he said.

Former champion jockey Peter Scudamore described Fletcher as an "unsung hero"

He told Press Association Sport: "He was an unsung hero and without the unsung heroes of that era National Hunt racing wouldn't be where it is today.

"It goes without saying he was a very good horseman and to win the Grand National three times is an incredible achievement.

"It's just a shame that after he finished with racing you didn't hear a lot about him."

Former jockey now trainer Chris Grant left school as a 15-year-old to work for Smith, and remembered Fletcher from his early days at the yard.

He said: "I was just starting out when Brian was finishing, so I didn't know him that well, but he was someone you always looked up to.

"Red Alligator won the National in 1967 and I didn't start with Denys until 1972, but you obviously knew when you were in the yard what Brian had achieved.

"He had an unbelievable record over the National fences, obviously.

"He was a top-class rider."

Nigel Payne has been associated with the National since the 1970s in his role as press officer and said: "I remember Brian as someone whose name is imprinted on the Grand National in respect of his two wins on Red Rum and his victory on Red Alligator.

"He's someone we had contact with since his retirement, I'd spoken to him a couple of times about certain promotions and it has come as a bit of a shock. He is one of the iconic names associated with Aintree and perhaps he didn't get the recognition he deserved.

"To win the Grand National three times is truly amazing and it is really sad news."