IRISH racing has lost one of its favourite sons with the passing of former trainer Mick O'Toole. He would have been 87 next month.

Best known as the trainer of 1977 Gold Cup winner Davy Lad, he trained eight Cheltenham Festival winners during his career.

He began training in 1965 in the Phoenix Park and quickly made a name for himself as a trainer capable of landing gambles. He retained that fondness for landing a betting coup right through his career and afterwards.

He moved to Maddenstown on the Curragh in the late 1960s and started to recruit higher class horses in the 1970s. Davy Lad was his first Cheltenham winner when he won the Sun Alliance Hurdle two years before his Gold Cup success. Chinrullah won the Arkle and was first past the post in the Champion Chase but later disqualified.

His best flat horse was Dickens Hill, winner of the 1979 Irish 2000 Guineas and Eclipse Stakes, and runner-up to Troy in the Derby at both Epsom and the Curragh. O’Toole owned 40% of the horse who was sold for stallion duties in America.

O’Toole retired from training in the 1990s but continued to go racing regularly. In recent seasons he had represented French-based owner Joe Donnelly at the races, collecting trophies when horses such as Melon and Al Boum Photo won for the former bookmaker.

A very keen golfer, O’Toole fell ill suddenly during the summer and spent time in the Blackrock Clinic in Dublin. His condition worsened this week and he passed away on Thursday.

He is survived by his wife Una, son Ciaran – a leading jockeys’ agent – and daughter Mags, a highly respected bloodstock agent.

A full obituary will appear in The Irish Field on Saturday.

The following death notice is taken from rip.ie

The death has occurred of Mick O'TOOLE, Maddenstown, Curragh, Kildare

Passed away peacefully at the Blackrock Clinic, Dublin. Very sadly missed by his loving wife Una, daughter Margaret, son Ciaran, daughter-in-law Aisling, grandchildren Catherine and Michael, his sister Winnie, nieces and nephews and his many friends. May He Rest In Peace.

Arriving at the Carmelite Church, Kildare for prayers at 6pm, Sunday, 26th August. Funeral Mass on Monday, 27th August, at 11am. House strictly private.