Champion jumps trainer Paul Nicholls has paid a heartfelt tribute to his landlord and mentor Paul Barber saying his life won’t be the same without him.
Barber, a dairy farmer and jumps stalwart who owned two Cheltenham Gold Cup winners trained by Nicholls, died at the weekend aged 80.
He famously made it his ambition to milk 1,000 cows and own a Gold Cup winner, a dream he completed when See More Business won at Cheltenham in 1999.
He was also the part-owner of the legendary Denman, who secured him more Gold Cup glory in 2008 and joint-owner, with former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson in dual King George VI Chase winner Clan Des Obeaux.
The 14-time champion jumps trainer Nicholls posted a personal tribute to the man who had put him on a path to success on his website.
“Paul had a massive influence on my career from the day he chose me from a dozen applicants to train at his stables below his farmhouse in Ditcheat,” he said.
“From the moment Paul gave me the keys to his yard and gallops in October 1991 he backed me to the hilt.”
He added: “I am so proud that in time I was able to train him two Gold Cup winners, See More Business and Denman, and by then of course, he was milking 2,000 cows.
“Over the last few years he was milking 3,000 cows and we were trying so hard to come up with a third Gold Cup winner.”
Nicholls described Barber as “wise beyond his years’ and like a “father figure” to him.
“Looking back now I realise how lucky I was to have such an astute businessman at my side to pass on sound advice from the moment I started training,” he said.
He continued: “He deserved all the success he had because he was such a tremendous enthusiast and put so much into racing and life.
“My life will not be the same without Paul Barber. Thank you Paul for giving me the chance. RIP.”
