PAT Lordan, a former jockey and from a well-known racing family, died suddenly last weekend. He was only 52.

From Inishannon in Co Cork, he was a brother of leading flat jockey Wayne, and his son Darragh is a successful breeze-up consignor.

Darragh Lordan said: “Dad had great success in drag hunts and pony racing before he went to work for Arthur Stephenson in the north of England. Over there he rode out and looked after The Thinker the year he won the Cheltenham Gold Cup (1987). He rode point-to-point winners for Gerry Cully and he was hugely involved with horses all his life. He rode alongside his brother-in-law Paul Crowley, who was a great friend of his.

“Dad drove me around the country for seven or eight years when I was pony racing and he took great pleasure in Wayne’s success. He also took great interest in my own bloodstock interest and he was very proud to see his three-year-old grandson Callum out hunting recently.”

Darragh said he was “blown away” by the number of people who attended his father’s reposing and funeral. “We were four hours shaking hands the evening before the funeral. Aidan O’Brien and a lot of Coolmore people came to pay their respects. I had no idea our dad was so popular.”