Farewell to… Roddy Armytage
Former National Hunt trainer Roddy Armytage died on 31 August, aged 80. The father of H&H racing correspondent and Grand National-winning jockey Marcus, and his sister Gee, had been suffering from MSA (multiple system atrophy), a rare degenerative neurological disorder.
Having been assistant to Neville Crump and Frank Cundell, Roddy began his training career in 1962 and for 32 years was based in East Ilsley, near Lambourn. His first winner, Fire Raiser, came in August that year ridden by the late Terry Biddlecombe.
The trainer enjoyed back-to-back successes in the Scottish Grand National with Barona in 1975 and 1976, as well as recording victories in the Tingle Creek Chase, Fox Hunters’ and Feltham Chase, with his most successful season being 1971-72 with 37 winners.
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Polly joined the Horse & Hound team in summer 2013. A former senior master of the Bicester with Whaddon Chase, her hunting knowledge and contacts are second to none. She left Horse & Hound at the end of 2016 to join The Hunting Office.