Kinross-based Grand National-winning horse One For Arthur has died at the age of 14.
Dedicated Kinross trainer Lucinda Russell led the touching tributes calling him “a horse of a lifetime”.
Owned by Belinda McClung and Deborah Thomson, One For Arthur delivered only Scotland’s second success at Aintree in 2017 following Rubstic’s victory in 1979.
Winner of Warwick’s Classic Chase, he went on to Aintree glory that same season under Derek Fox and while injury scuppered his follow-up bid, he returned to finish sixth to Tiger Roll in 2019.
He was being primed for the 2020 National, but the race was cancelled because of the Covid pandemic and he was retired that November.
One for Arthur died from natural causes in his stable on Friday.
Posting on social media, Lucinda wrote: “We are sad to share that One For Arthur died this morning.
“A horse of a lifetime, he made our dreams come true when winning the Aintree Grand National in 2017. Arthur had a fabulous life on and off the track, and in winning at Aintree, brought himself immortality.
“We will miss him”.
She later added: “He was everything a woman wants in a man.
“He was brave, honest and kind.
“He was the ideal National horse. He was such an athlete, had loads of stamina, lots of bravery, loved the fences and took his time.
“He was just a fabulous horse to have and set the yard off, and hopefully he would be proud of what we are doing now. He was the springboard for our yard.
“He had a great retirement as well.
“He was 14 and fitted a lot into his years.”
One For Arthur went on to have a second career in the show ring, in the care of Aisling Dwan, daughter of the National winner’s breeder John.
He competed at the Dublin Horse Show in August alongside Tiger Roll and returned to Scotland to take part in hunter trials under former work-rider Ailsa McClung.
Peter Scudamore, Russell’s partner and assistant at Arlarly House, felt that his potential was unlocked by the women who adored him.
“It’s only just dawning on us how important he was to us,” Scudamore said.
“What was so lovely was that all the girls were around him.
“(Owners) The Two Golf Widows are wonderful characters and then obviously Lucinda trained him.
“Ailsa McClung looked after him at home and rode him at home. Then Jamie Duff and Erin Walker played a huge part in looking after him.
“Basically, he was owned by women, trained by a woman and looked after by girls all the time and I feel very sad for them, because they adored him and gave him a most magnificent life.
“He had a good life, but it is they who will miss him, because they adored him.
“He came back to Dumfries just before Christmas to Ailsa and she took him out hunting and cross country and he loved it.”
