A desperately sad week at Ditcheat puts racing into perspective

THE last week has been incredibly tough for everyone at Ditcheat.

Last Sunday, we learned the devastating news one of our friends and colleagues at the yard, Keagan Kirkby, had passed away.

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Keagan Kirkby, 25, (pictured right next to champion trainer Paul Nicholls) died after being thrown from his horse in Kent[/caption]

For those of you who don’t know, Keagan was a keen amateur rider and a hugely popular member of the Ditcheat family.

Keagan had finished runner-up on a horse called Ripper Roo in the second-last race at a point-to-point meeting at Charing, a village near Ashford in Kent.

Then, in the last race there, he was riding a horse called Westtara who, coming to a fence, ran through a wing.

Keagan fell and was fatally injured.

On-course paramedics did all they could to save Keagan and an air ambulance was called. Sadly he died from his injuries. He was 25.

Keagan’s passing has shocked us all and left so many people stunned and heartbroken.

I worked with Keagan virtually every day for the past five years, and you could not meet a nicer young man.

He was so enthusiastic and passionate about his job and, like all of us at Ditcheat, he loved his horses and working with them.

Keagan was just an incredibly friendly and kind person and he will be missed by everyone who knew him. My heart goes out to his loved ones.

Sadly, we also lost Hermes Allen in a fall at Sandown last weekend.

He was a gentleman of a horse who gave the yard some great days — it can be a very cruel game.

But it was lovely to see the new boy Caldwell Potter arrive at the yard after he broke a few records at the sales in Ireland.

It’s exciting for everyone to have a horse of his calibre arrive mid-season and we can’t wait to see what he can do on the track.

I got the leg up on another nice prospect at Huntingdon on Thursday when Jax Junior finished second at a big price in the bumper for Lucy Wadham.

I rode out at Lucy’s before racing and the weather was absolutely diabolical!

But this lad seemingly doesn’t mind it when the mud is flying and the race rode like a strong one — I think he has a bright future over hurdles.

Which brings me on to today’s big Betfair Hurdle, and I’m excited to get the call-up from Willie Mullins for the ride on ALVANIY (3.15).

I’ve ridden for Willie before and anything he runs over here clearly demands respect, and we know Alvaniy loves soft ground and is still pretty unexposed.

We are down the bottom of the weights and I’m hopeful he can run a big one with lots of prize-money up for grabs.

I also ride DAVID’S WELL (12.55) in the opener for Chris Gordon. He is a good-looking young horse who knows Newbury well and has some solid form around there.

My final ride of the day is ROMAN ROY (4.25), who is owned by Graeme Brooks and runs in the same colours as my old pal Black Corton, in the last for Paul.

He is a gorgeous horse, a proper athlete to look at, and was a good second in a big field bumper on his debut. He has a nice chance.

However, whatever happens out there today — and for the rest of the season — Keagan will never be far from our thoughts. His passing certainly puts everything into perspective.