Tributes paid to Paul Barber, owner of legendary Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Denman, who has died at 80
CHAMPION trainer Paul Nicholls has led the tributes to his ‘great friend’ and long-time ally Paul Barber, who has died aged 80.
Barber was Nicholls’ landlord at his yard in Ditcheat and a hugely successful racehorse owner.
His famous silks were carried to victory twice in the Gold Cup, first by See More Business in 1999 and later by the legendary chaser Denman in 2008.
He also owned or part-owned the top-class chasers Clan Des Obeaux, Topofthegame, See More Indians and Call Equiname.
Nicholls told the Racing Post: “I’ve been at Ditcheat 32 years this summer and since the day I made that first phone call to arrange an interview to take on the yard we’ve had an amazing time.
“I would’ve seen him every single day, apart from when I was away, and spoken to him pretty much every day as well.
“He’s always been there in the background along the way and I certainly wouldn’t be where I am without his help and advice.
“Back in those days when I started in 1991 you didn’t have to do training modules and learn how to run a business, you just got your licence and a few horses and got on with it.
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“I wanted to make a success of it and it was his advice on so many things that allowed me to grow; to sum it up he was a brilliant businessman, a brilliant family man and a great sportsman.
“I’ve been lucky really in that I’ve had two dads: Brian, my dad, and Paul. They’ve played equally important roles in my life.
“We had a great friendship and I don’t think in all of those years together we had a cross word.”
Ex-jockey and now ITV broadcaster Mick Fitzgerald, who rode See More Business to win the Gold Cup, echoed Nicholls’ sentiments.
He said: “I was very lucky to ride a Gold Cup winner for Paul and I know what it meant to him.
“Being on top of See More Business when Paul was leading him into the winner’s enclosure that day after winning the Cheltenham Gold Cup is a memory that will live forever for me.
“It’s one of my proudest days in the saddle and I was just privileged to be allowed to ride the horse.
“I know what it meant to him to have a Gold Cup winner and I think that is how I would like to remember Paul Barber.
“He was a man who loved what Paul Nicholls did at Ditcheat, he was very proud of what Paul achieved – I know that.
“They were very good friends as well as Paul being a tenant and I know it meant an awful lot to him to have Paul as his trainer and he took a lot of pride in Paul being champion trainer so many times as well.
“I feel for (his wife) Marianne and the whole Barber family at this time.”