Former trainer Henrietta Knight has said she was lucky to have worked for an owner like Jim Lewis, following his death at the age of 88.
Lewis’s claret and blue colours, a tribute to his beloved Aston Villa, were carried to victory three times in the Gold Cup by Best Mate, who became the first horse since Arkle to complete a hat-trick of wins in the blue riband event when successful in 2004.
They were also worn by the likes of Champion Chase and King George winner Edredon Bleu, who Knight rated as highly as her Gold Cup hero.