AVIA Riddell-Martin, who died recently, had the rare distinction of breeding a Cheltenham Gold Cup winner by her own stallion, Document.

That was Charter Party, successful in 1988 for trainer David Nicholson. That victory earned her a Goffs Golden Horseshoe Award, an accolade reintroduced by Leo Powell following his appointment as the company’s National Hunt manager.

Never one to mince her words, Avia once described Charter Party, a dark bay gelding with no white markings, as “the biggest, ugliest camel you have ever seen”.

Avia Maeb Julia was one of two daughters, the other being her older sister Anne, of Colonel Denis William Daly, OBE, of Russborough House, Blessington, Co Wicklow, which he bought shortly before his marriage in 1931.

A lifelong racing enthusiast, and a member of both the Turf Club and the INHSC, Colonel Daly had a filly in training with Roderic More O’Ferrall in Kildangan Castle. Named Avia, she won twice at Baldoyle in 1937, presumably named after the Colonel’s daughter.

When this was put to Avia it brought the swift retort that the opposite was the case! Who would disagree?

Galway connection

Being of Galway descent, Colonel Daly aspired to win one of the annual Galway race highlights. He succeeded in the Galway Plate in 1937 with Brighter Cottage, trained by Harry Ussher, likewise a Galwegian.

They struck again in 1940 when Ring Of Gold landed the Plate, and the following day Colonel Daly completed that elusive double when Roderic More O’Ferrall sent out Red Shaft to win the Hurdle.

The mounting cost of upkeep on Russborough obliged Colonel Daly to sell up in 1952. Following his death and two years later his widow married Norman Wachman, father of another Turf Club stalwart and former senior steward, Nick.

Cool Customer

Avia married trainer A W ‘Tony’ Riddell-Martin in 1965. Best known for his training of the high-class chaser Cool Customer, Tony retired through ill-health, subsequently enjoying Cheltenham Festival success with the versatile Lough Inagh, winner of the 1975 Queen Mother Champion Chase, trained by Tony’s neighbour Jim Dreaper.

Widowed in 1983, Avia, a gracious and amusing hostess, devoted the rest of her life and passion to her horses and her dogs. She also waged war on ragwort, making an annual call to The Irish Field editor to highlight its prevalence in areas of the country.

Described by a close friend as “a force”, Avia was formidable, funny, loyal and never boring. She will be missed by many friends. She received the most amazing care in her final weeks from the staff at St Brigid’s Hospice on the Curragh.