Racing: Bird's Nest laid to rest

ANDY TURNELL yesterday paid tribute to the high-class hurdler Bird's Nest, whose death last week has just been announced. Turnell rode Bird's Nest, who was trained by his father, Bob, to success in numerous good races in the late 1970s and early 1980s. The partnership finished second to Night Nurse in the Champion Hurdle of 1976.

'He had a good retirement and had been hunting until recently,' Turnell said. 'He was probably the best hurdler I ever rode. There was a question about his courage at one stage - one day he would run straight as a die, the next he would hang all over the place.

'He beat all the top horses when he won three Bula Hurdles and three Fighting Fifths. If he could have run up to his early-season form at Cheltenham he would have won the Champion Hurdle.'