Gibson calls it a day

Bruce Gibson announced his retirement from the saddle after riding Crazy Horse to finish runner-up in the Weatherbys Insurance Morebattle Handicap Hurdle at Kelso.

The 28-year-old from Hawick has been associated with Len Lungo’s Carrutherstown yard sine leaving school.

His finest hour came on Celtic Giant in the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Chase at the 1999 Cheltenham Festival. He also rode The Bajan Bandit to win the Martell Weatherbys Champion Bumper at Aintree two years later.

After being presented with a magnum of champagne by the racecourse executive, Gibson said: “I rode about 100 winners, with Celtic Giant being the highlight. It was a winner on my first ride at Cheltenham. I’ve been back a few times since but I’ve never had another winner there.”

Lungo paid tribute to Gibson.

He said: “You couldn’t wish for a better lad. He came to me straight from school as a 16-year-old and I can’t remember him missing a day’s work.

“He was always the first man to volunteer to work on the gallops or take a horse out an extra time.

“He helped with all the breaking-in and you couldn’t wish for a better man to work for you.

“He’s had horrendous weight problems, for instance the other day after some dieting he was still 11st.

“He’s now going to have a senior position in the yard.”