Former Oxfordshire trainer John Bosley has died aged 77 following a long battle against can- cer.

Bosley, of High Street, Uffington, was a successful amateur jockey before embarking on a training career which spanned more than 30 years - firstly at Bampton and then at Kingston Lisle, near Wantage.

He passed away in Oxford's John Radcliffe Hospital on Monday.

Born in Harwell, his riding career saw him post 97 winners, with his biggest success coming in the Foxhunters' Chase at Aintree in 1954 aboard Dark Stranger, who he rode in the Grand National the following year.

A fractured skull in a fall at Cheltenham forced him to hang up his riding boots, and he went on to combine training on a permit at first with farming.

Going on to become a fully-fledged trainer, he saddled more than 120 winners, mainly from Lower Haddon Farm at Bampton, before moving to Kingston Lisle Farm Racing Stables in 1995.

His first winner came in 1966 with Fridge at Hereford.

The mare Eyecatcher really put him on the map by winning seven races and finishing third in successive Grand Nationals - to Rag Trade in 1976 and Red Rum 12 months later.

Known as a colourful character, he gained notoriety when he shot out the bulbs of a searchlight at RAF Brize Norton - which backed on to his farm - to stop noisy military manouevres and enable himself and his two runners for the next day to sleep.

He was taken to court, but having gained celebrity status for his actions escaped with a rap on the knuckles.

His widow, Sylvia, said: "He was always fun-loving and he loved his horses and hunting.

"He was a great sportsman and loved stag hunting on Exmoor."

His son, Martin, who took over the reins at Kingston Lisle before moving to Marlborough, said they had been inundated with sympathy messages.

"You don't realise what a well-loved and well-respected person he was," he said.

"It is lovely for mother that so many people held him in such high regard.

"He was a farmer as well as a horseman and a great stockman, and a great man with animals. Even in his late 60s he was still riding out.

"He was a man of the country and loved his shooting."

In addition to Sylvia and Martin, he leaves another son, John, and a daughter, Nicky, together with four grandchildren, James, Tom, Elizabeth and Jonathan.

A private funeral service will take place place at St Matthew's Parish Church, Harwell, on Monday, February 11.

7:02pm Tuesday 29th January 2008

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