Bob Champion has paid tribute Josh Gifford following his death.
Champion recovered from cancer to ride the Gifford-trained Aldaniti to victory in the 1981 Grand National and was indebted to the trainer for supporting him during his illness, as well as sticking by him when he returned to the saddle.
Champion said: "He was a great jockey, a great trainer and a great man. He was so loyal to his jockeys."
Former stable jockey Richard Rowe rode most of Gifford's best horses, and had visited his former boss only recently.
"It's very sad news, I only went to see him last week. It was meant to be a brief visit but it lasted three and a half hours!" said Rowe.
"I was very grateful I had the chance to see him before he passed away. His health was back and forth a bit. He'd have a blood transfusion and have a good spell but then the infection would return.
"My time there was the best for both of our careers, he was a great man to work for. Some of the horses I rode for him were top-class. Kybo was the best, it was just unfortunate that he broke a leg before the Gold Cup. I was only talking about him with Josh last week.
"When you look at the others like Door Latch, Royal Judgement, Deep Sensation and Bradbury Star that I rode in their early days, and I won a Schweppes on Deep Sensation.
"The reason my dad was so keen for me to join Josh was that he'd been a great jockey and he said there'd be no-one better to learn off - he was right.
"And so it's been with my training, I often think 'what would Josh do now' and try to copy him. I couldn't have wished for a better teacher. It would be a great tribute if Tatenen (trained by Rowe) could win the Racing Plus Chase at Kempton at the end of the month, it would be very fitting."
