Edward O'Grady was born to racing royalty.
His father Willie trained for Anne , Duchess Of Westminster among others.
Kinloch Brae was the best horse he trained.
Dubbed the next Arkle after his Cathcart Cup Chase win 1969 Festival , he started favourite for 1970 Gold Cup before unseating Tim Hyde 3 fences out when leading.
Edward was studying veterinary at this stage but had to cease his studies in final year when his father took ill late 1971 .
A "spoiled vet ", he trained his first winner on Thyestes Chase day 1972 , his first Festival winner in 1974 and became known as a trainer well able to "lay one out ".
One such gamble occurred in Bellewstown 1974 when Golden Lancer , a good 2m 4f chaser was entered in a conditions hurdle for Amateur riders.
Well over 20 lbs well in the money was down , the trainer's only concern was the short trip which he relayed to jockey Tim Jones.
" I'll keep him to the outside so !" came the reply.
Edward said it was his funniest moment racing; after the event ,not on the day.
The horse won a head.
After Golden Cygnet's departure a Sean Graham Racing Annual featured a picture of Edward at home with his seven Festival hopefuls .
Having seven such horses was unheard of by any Irish trainer at that time; how times have changed.
Mouse Morris was stable jockey , Niall "Boots "Madden his amateur and his horses were drilled to win first time out; Bumper, hurdle or chase. He was the go to trainer that got JP McManus started .
Jack Of Trumps was their champion ; pity he jumped to his left as he had the speed to win a Cesarewitch just like Cottage Rake.
Deep Gale's first Festival foray was the 4 mile NH chase, he returned 12 months later as favourite for the Supreme Novice Hurdle.
His part in "Murphy's Stroke " the Gay Future film could only have been played by a budding James Bond, such was the aura that surrounded him.
Racehorse injuries, mainly at home made him change to training flat horses for a few years.
HIs first job was to improve his gallops, which of course was the NH problem also.
He made money but yearned for the "Fun life " so reverted back to his first love , with devastating success, even naming one inmate Minister For Fun after the David Mellors saga.
Years later at Champions Day 2010, Art , Paddy and myself met Edward at a mobile wine bar near the parade ring.
"Racing For Change " was the theme of the time .
Edward was not impressed what with no dress code, wine served in plastic glasses and Matt Chapman as MC on the PA.
Even the days of James Bond types portraying racehorse trainers was a thing of the past, Dermot Weld having been portrayed by Brendan Gleeson, who had previously acted the part of criminal Martin Cahill in "The General" .
To think Dermot was a fully qualified vet must have shown Edward how far racing had fallen in the public esteem.
At a Cheltenham Preview at Killarney 2012 Matt C regaled how Edward insisted being called Edward but Matt kept calling him Eddie in interviews, just to wind him up.
Andrew McNamara senior did better; when son Andrew first got appointed stable jockey at Ballynonty he asked the staff what he should call Edward.
" Ned " came the reply.
Andrew was shown the door shortly after.
Appropriate he should pass Galway race week with memories of Plate winners Shining Flame, Hindhope and Rugged Lucy , and Hard Tarquin winning the Hurdle when Edward was the main man.
Rest In Peace.
www.theirishfield.ie
