Walter Swinburn dies aged 55

Tributes have poured in for former Derby-winning jockey Walter Swinburn who has died aged 55.

Swinburn earned his place in the Derby history books when he guided Shergar to victory in the 1981 Classic when he was just 19 years old and he went on to win the blue riband five years later aboard Shahrastani before guiding Lammtarra to victory in 1995.

Nicknamed the Choirboy, Swinburn enjoyed a hugely successful career in the saddle - international victories included the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and Breeders' Cup Turf - before taking out trainers' licence in 2004.

He went on to win four Group 3 events only to give up his licence in 2011.

Paying tribute to the jockey, Sir Michael Stoute, the trainer of Shergar, said: "He had the right temperament for the big days and he thrived on them. He also had great positional sense in a race which stood him in good stead. We enjoyed many great days together but I would say our first Derby together with Shergar, when he was just 19, was an obvious one.

"I think Pilsudski winning at the Breeders Cup was also up there as it was our first win at Breeders' Cup. He'll be much missed."

Mick Kinane added: "His ride on Lammtarra, a maiden winner in the Derby, was a phenomenal achievement to manage an inexperienced horse around Epsom. That was one of his outstanding achievements and he definitely had ice in his veins on the big days - nothing seemed to bother him.

"He was a hugely talented man with fantastic, lovely, quiet hands. Horses settled for him and he was a great talent.

Friend John Francome spoke of his shock at hearing the news on Monday.

"I spoke to him a couple of months ago and he seemed in really good form. It's absolutely shocking he should die aged 55 - no age at all," Francome told At The Races.

"He was an absolutely gifted rider, you never saw any horse pulling with him or having their head in the air.

"He was a little bit of a troubled soul in some ways, he had weight problems which probably affected him a lot more than other people, but that said that seemed to be a long time ago and he seemed to all intents and purposes fine, but obviously he wasn't.

"He could ride a race, he had a really good feel for what was going on underneath him. What the horse was doing - he must have been a fantastic jockey to have riding for you.

"He'd give great feedback and come back in and tell you everything you needed to know. He probably knew everything he needed to know by the time he got down to the start.

"He was a very sensitive person, both on and off a horse."

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