A top jump jockey and "true Irish gentleman" who won the Welsh Grand National and lived in Epsom for nearly 70 years has died aged 93.

Paddy Fitzgerald, of Lower Court Road, Epsom, died on Saturday his granddaughter said.

He came over to Epsom from Churchtown, County Cork, Ireland, in his 20s, to pursue a racing career in the market town renowned for hosting the world’s greatest flat-race.

Mr FitzGerald's greatest triumph was winning the 1955 Welsh Grand National.

This was no mean feat as he beat racing great Fred Winter and his horse Sundew.

They went on to win the Grand National in 1957, and Winter won it three times more - twice as a trainer and once as a jockey.

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But in 1955 Mr Fitzgerald was the 20/1 winner, also defeating famous crime writer Dick Francis, who was then a jockey and riding a horse called Crudwell.

A broken leg in 1960 ended his career and he worked for Harold Wallington who he told the Racing Post in an interview around the time of his 80th birthday was "the cleverest trainer in Epsom."

He told the Post: "There wasn't much jumping in Epsom, and even when I was riding, I carried on working in stables.

"I had a great time in racing, and I'd go through it all again."

The father-of-three and great-grandfather of six lost his wife Mary 18 months ago, to whom he was happily married for more than 58 years.

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Mr Fitzgerald’s granddaughter Lauren Fitzgerald said the death of his wife led to a deterioration in his own health: "We knew when one went the other was going to go."

She added: "Paddy was a well-respected man in the horse racing industry, even in his 90s he still followed every horse race on television and attended many prestigious events.

"Loved by many and sorely missed, a true Irish gentleman and family man."

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