WE send our best wishes to Lester Piggott who is in hospital in Switzerland at the moment.

The 86-year-old was unable to make it to the Curragh last Saturday to see a new statue of him unveiled but The Long Fellow’s request that the scuplture be set facing the track was honoured.

Representing the 11-times champion British jockey at the Curragh were his daughter Tracy and grand-daughter Tia.

The statue was sculpted by William Newton and is identical to those on display at several British racecourses and in Piggott’s hometown of Wantage. The Curragh statue was presented to the track by the St George family, who had such a close association with the legendary rider.