Thieves steal Mellor's trophies

Thieves stole prized trophies belonging to a former champion jockey Stan Mellor on Cheltenham Gold Cup day.

Burglars took the awards belonging to Mellor, the first National Hunt jockey to ride 1,000 winners, when he went out for a pub meal.

Mellor, 66, said he was “terribly upset” by the theft of the seven unique and inscribed trophies worth £20,000 (€29,000) but of far greater sentimental value.

He had spent Thursday at the Festival and then went to a pub in his home village of Ashbury near Swindon, Wiltshire, UK, for a meal in the evening.

When he returned seven trophies were gone, the most precious of which was a 20-year-old Philip Blacker sculpture of Royal Stewart and Royal Mail, two Grand National horses trained by Mellor.

Also taken was a silver-plated horse on an onyx plinth, which was presented to him when he rode his record-breaking 1,000th winner, a silver Armada plate that Stan won as a jockey in 1971, a gold-plated replica of the King George VI trophy won in 1964 and three silver salvers.

Mellor, who lives with wife Elaine, retired from training horses two years ago.

He said: “It is a great loss. They meant a lot to me and I enjoyed having them around the house.

“They are all inscribed so I don’t really understand how they would be of much use to anyone. But hopefully I will get them back.”