MIKE RIDLEY

Today’s Racing Post Weekender carries the sad news that Mike Ridley passed away last week.

Carl Evans in his “Pointing Diary” provides a fitting tribute to Mike who was a stalwart of the Ledbury Hunt and Point-to-Point Racing in the West Midlands. This is reproduced below

“Gloucestershire’s Mike Ridley who with his wife Heather owned and trained last season’s top Pointer Noble Ben, passed away last week after a draining battle with cancer.

A ready smile and a passion for hunting and racing made Mike good company on any occasion, and it must have given him untold pleasure to see his son James, ride Noble Ben to victory at Cheltenham’s Hunter Chase meeting in May.

Mike, 55, also owned and trained World Wide Web, the ex-chaser who became a brilliant hunt ride specialist, carrying Eddie Ahern to victory in the Ledbury’s Golden Button Challenge.

Noble Ben is being prepared for an attempt on the Christie’s Foxhunters Chase, and it is certain Mick was doing his best to cling to life until after the festival. There will be vociferous support from the locals if the horse makes it to the winners enclosure.

His funeral takes place at Forthampton Village church on Monday at noon. A splash of red, white or blue – the family’s colours – is the only dress code”.

Mike (centre) and his wife Heather in happier times after Noble Bens victory at Maisemore Park last spring