Dandy bids farewell

Hallo Dandy, winner of the 1984 Grand National, was put down yesterday aged 33.

The gelding had spent the last 13 years at Carrie Humble’s Thoroughbred Rehabilitation Centre in Lancashire and Humble and her staff were at Hallo Dandy’s side when he was put down on the advice of vets.

“I never thought I’d even see a Grand National winner, never mind look after one for 13 years. To have had Dan for so long and for him to still be enjoying his days was a rare privilege,” said Humble.

“Dandy was an example of a dying breed. These days I see so few steeplechasers with enough bone for the job. As bone and stamina are traded for speed, and temperament takes a back seat, the old-style chasers are fast disappearing.

“In my world, Dan led the pack and always will. I will never know another horse like him.”

Hallo Dandy was trained by Gordon Richards at Greystoke in Cumbria and Neale Doughty was aboard when he registered his famous success at Aintree.