Tributes to Woollacott as trainer dies at 40

RACING was united in disbelief yesterday following the death of trainer Richard Woollacott. What could have been the biggest week of the 40-yearold’s professional life, with Beer Goggles representing him in Saturday’s Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham, has turned into tragedy. On Monday, Woollacott (below) had been giving interviews about the prospects of the horse who provided him with the biggest win of his career in the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury last month. But before his words could be read in yesterday’s newspapers, police had been called to his stables in south Devon where they found his body. A statement from Devon and Cornwall Police read: ‘Police were notified at around 10.30pm yesterday (Monday) to reports of a concern of welfare for a man at a property in Rose Ash, South Molton. ‘A man in his 40s was discovered deceased at the scene. His death is not believed to be suspicious and a file has been prepared for the coroner.’ Champion jockey Richard Johnson, successful on Beer Goggles at Newbury, said: ‘It’s a massive shock to everyone. I was very lucky to have a couple of nice winners for him, but apart from that I knew him from his point-to-point days. I’ve known him a long time. ‘He worked very hard and always did the job very well. He was a lovely fella to have around. He was always good fun and always had a smile on his face.’ Woollacott, Britain’s champion point-to-point rider in 2010, began training point-to-pointers in 2005 and saddled more than 130 winners before taking out a professional licence in 2012. He enjoyed a breakthrough success when Lalor won at last year’s Grand National meeting and the gelding is one of the favourites for the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury on February 10. The BHA have granted a temporary licence to Woollacott’s wife Kayley.