BRIAN Harding received a great send-off when he had his final ride at Perth yesterday. The 44-year-old’s career spanned 25 years in the saddle. Harding said: “It had to happen sometime. I have been doing it a long time and I will be 45 in September. The last three years have been some of the best of my life, but I made the decision at the start of the year that this year would be the last one.

“I would rather go like this while things are still going pretty well and while I still love and enjoy it very much.”

Harding will be forever remembered for giving One Man, trained by the late Gordon Richards, his moment of glory at the Cheltenham Festival in the 1998 Queen Mother Champion Chase, with the hugely popular grey having previously failed in two Gold Cups and a Royal & SunAlliance Chase.

British title race

THE British NH season comes to a close today with the trainers’ title still up for grabs. However, Nicky Henderson looks to have it in his grasp with Altior odds-on against Special Tiara in the Celebration Chase worth £71,188 to the winner and £84,405 to the winner of the bet365 Gold Cup Handicap Chase in which Henderson runs Sugar Baron and Vyta Du Roc against Nicholls with last year’s winner Just A Par. Nicky Henderson £2,652,532

Paul Nicholls £2,484,117

Difference £168,585

Breeder of Month

THE winner of the Connolly’s Red Mills/The Irish Field Breeder of the Month award for March is Jack Kidd from Enfield, Co Meath. Jack bred Grade 1 Cheltenham Festival winner Willoughby Court.

Edith Sweetman

The death has occurred in her 92nd year of Edith Sweetman, mother of racing journalist Alan.

Her funeral service will take place at St Columba’s Church of Ireland church, Kells, Co Meath at 2.30 on Tuesday, May 2nd. Burial afterwards in adjoining churchyard. No flowers - donations is desired to Katie Nugent Fund at Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital Crumlin.

Leopardstown race

HRI has announced there will be an additional race at Leopardstown on next Sunday, May 7th, to form an eight-race card. This race will be a maiden for two-year-olds only over six furlongs and 90 yards and will close for entries along with the rest of the meeting on Tuesday, with declarations to run to be made by 10am on Friday.