English trainer Alan Swinbank dies aged 62

Popular English trainer Alan Swinbank has died suddenly at the age of 62.

Swinbank was a dual-purpose trainer renowned for turning classy National Hunt horses into Pattern contenders on the Flat, most notably Collier Hill who developed from a bumper and hurdles performer into a three-time Group One winner.

Collier Hill won the 2005 Irish St Leger before going on to claim international glory in the Canadian International at Woodbine and the Hong Kong Vase at Sha Tin the following year.

Swinbank’s final winner came at Hamilton last week when Joe Fanning steered Genres to victory.

Niall Hannity, Racing UK presenter and jockeys’ agent, rode for Swinbank and more recently worked with him in representing the likes of Fanning.

“I rode for him many years ago and he was very good to me,” Hannity said.

“He was a shrewd man and we all know how well he did with bumper horses in turning them into good Flat performers with the likes of Turbo Linn and Collier Hill.

“He could train all sorts of horses, from five-furlong sprinters to three-mile chasers, and there aren’t many that can do that.”