Jim Lewis, the owner of three-time Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Best Mate, has died aged 88.
Best Mate won a third consecutive Gold Cup in 2004, and became one of the nation's best-loved horses in the process. The last horse with three trophies in the grand prize was the legendary Arkle back in the Sixties.
Lewis died on Sunday from kidney failure, his widow Jennifer confirmed to BBC Midlands Today.
Lewis was a huge Aston Villa fan, which is why the horse - trained by Henrietta Knight and ridden by Jim Culloty - rode in claret and blue colours.