THE Wexford-born jockey Daryl Jacob has paid tribute to former trainer Robert Alner, who died this week, aged 76.

Alner was seriously injured in a car crash in 2007, an accident which left him paralysed and in need of a wheelchair. He continued to train under a joint licence with his wife, Sally, until 2010, when the pair announced their retirement.

It was Alner who gave Jacob his first big break in racing when, in 2006, the trainer gave Jacob the mount on The Listener in the 2006 Lexus Chase at Leopardstown’s Christmas Festival. They also won the Irish Gold Cup together in 2008.

This week Jacob posted on social media: “Boss, my father, best friend, thank you for all the wonderful days together, the advice, love, looking after my career to the best it could be. I will be forever in debt. Love you always.”

Names

Alner sent out Cool Dawn to win the 1998 Cheltenham Gold Cup. Other star names handled by the former Dorset trainer include Gold Cup runner-up Sir Rembrandt and Betfair Chase hero Kingscliff. He also trained 2002 Cleeve Hurdle winner Kates Charm, 1997 Whitbread Gold Cup hero Harwell Lad and Super Tactics, who racked up 13 wins for the yard.

Retired jockey Andrew Thornton was closely linked to the yard. He rode Miko De Beauchene to an emotional victory in the Welsh Grand National, just weeks after Alner’s crash.

“He’d been going to Odstock Hospital every two months on and off for the last 12 years – the nurses knew him like part of the family. Even last week one of the nurses was reading him the Racing Post and read him it even though he wasn’t in a good way,” said Thornton.

Old school

“I suppose he was one of the last old school trainers. He had around 65 horses, predominantly chasers, and a lot that came from Ireland like Cool Dawn and Super Tactics, but he moved with the times – Miko De Beauchene came from France.

“It is said horses take after their trainer and his did, they just kept coming back and he did the same. He was given two years to live after the crash and he lasted over 12.”

Alner is survived by his wife Sally, daughters Louise and Jennifer, and four grandchildren.