Tributes to trainer FitzGerald

Racing: Jimmy FitzGerald, trainer of 1985 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Forgive'N Forget, has died, aged 69. Tipperary-born FitzGerald passed away in hospital yesterday following a long illness.

Having enjoyed a successful career as a jump jockey, FitzGerald sent out a host of big-race winners from his Malton base. After 33 years with a licence and about 1,200 winners, he handed over the reins of his Norton Grand stables to his son Tim at the end of February 2003.

Forgive'N Forget's triumph in the Cheltenham Gold Cup provided FitzGerald with the biggest success of his career.

Ridden by Mark Dwyer, the horse had previously landed a huge gamble when winning the Coral Golden Handicap Hurdle at the Festival in 1983.

Sent off a heavily-backed 5 to 2 favourite for the chasing showpiece two seasons later, the eight-year-old just got the better of Righthand Man.

Forgive'N Forget was third behind Dawn Run in the Gold Cup the following year, and his death in the 1988 renewal was described by FitzGerald as the lowest point of his career.

Dwyer, FitzGerald's former stable jockey over jumps, said: "We had many good times. Forgive'N Forget would obviously be one of the highlights, but there were many others.

"Jimmy was a good all-round horseman and there was no one better at getting a horse ready for the big day."

FitzGerald was instrumental in guiding the career of fellow Irishman and current Flat champion jockey Kieren Fallon when he moved over to England 1988.

"He was a great friend and I admired him a lot. The game will not seem the same without him," Fallon said. "He was like a father figure to me and his death is a great shock to racing as a whole."