SIXTIES GLORY

St John was a key part of Liverpool’s rise, while, right, he battles with future costar Jimmy Greaves

SHAMED Gordon Elliott last night suffered another blow as major owner Cheveley Park Stud withdrew their horses.

Three-times Grand Nationalwinning trainer Elliott has been suspended from British racing after an image emerged of him sitting on a dead horse. Cheveley managing

director Chris Richardson said: “We were, as was any horse-loving person, shocked to see the photograph and wished that to be verified before making any decision.

“We had to make some pretty severe decisions. It was just so shocking for everyone and it needed a lot of discussion between the parties to decide the way forward, which was confirmed this morning.

“Ultimately, the decision was made for us because of the image and the fact we are a leading breeding operation and racing operation based in the UK. We love our horses and we have an equine cemetery here at the stud where we bury the ashes of some of our wonderful horses.” Sir Gerhard, Classic Getaway and Grangeclare West have joined Willie Mullins, while Ballyadam, Malone Road, Quilixios, Guily Billy and Envoi Allen go to Henry de Bromhead. The overwhelming feeling is Elliott, 43, below, will be stripped of his licence by the Irish authorities on Friday.

But just as the racing world was coming to terms with the photo of Elliott making a phone call while sitting on one of his dead horses, another video was circulated yesterday of amateur rider Rob James, 28, similarly poised on a dead horse in 2016. It had also reportedly suffered a heart attack on the gallops. Referring to Elliott, former rider Ruby Walsh said: “A picture paints a thousand words, but that picture only painted one – and that’s indefensible. I felt very sad.”