WHEN anybody dies at the ripe old age of 96, it obviously has none of the tragedy of Eddery, Lomu or the Paris victims but I was sorry to learn of the death of Clem Magnier.

I remember going to see a yearling with him about 20 years ago - it was by Thatching. I have looked at horses in many places over the years but this remains the only occasion that I was asked into the house, not for a cup of tea, but for a game of table tennis.