The funeral of three times Grand National winning jockey Brian Fletcher took place this afternoon at Aberystwyth Crematorium.
Fletcher who had been living in the Llanybydder area for many years, will be remembered most for Red Rum’s first Grand National victory in 1973, when the pair reeled in the long-time leader, Crisp in the final 100 yards, having had almost 20 lengths to make up at the final fence.
The tough as teak jockey suffered a horrendous head injury in a novice chase at Teeside in 1972 that could have ended his career. He was side lined for ten months but returned just in time to ride on the Ginger McCain-trained chaser to land the most memorable of National triumphs in 1973.
The following year Fletcher was on board when Red Rum defied 12st to win for the second time and he partnered Red Rum into second place behind L’Escargot 12 months later.
Fletcher whose career was cut short by a succession of head injuries, will always be the jockey most closely associated with Red Rum and won the national on three occasions
His amazing record in jump racing’s best known race also included winning the 1968 National running on the Denys Smith-trained Red Alligator.
As a 17-year-old having his first ride in the race, Fletcher had finished third on Red Alligator 12 months earlier, emerging out of the memorable race that led to the success of 100-1 shot Foinavon. He also finished third on Eyecatcher in 1976, the year he retired.
Fletcher also won the Scottish National aboard Red Rum which he regarded as the best race of his career as it came just two weeks after the Aintree National and ‘Rummy’ is still the only horse in history to have won both races in the same season.
After giving up the saddle Fletcher moved to West Wales in the late seventies where he bought a farm and settled with his partner.
He died last week aged 69.
