Wednesday saw the gathering of hundreds of mourners paying their last respects ar the funeral of jockey Jan Wilson.

19 year old Wilson who came from Forfar died with her fellow apprentice, 18 year old Jamie Kyne, in a suspected case of arson. It was during the early hours of September 5th that the devastating fire ripped through the flats complex of Norton, North Yorkshire.

Miss Wilson had huge dreams of a professional jockey career after winning her first race in April at Ripon while riding Imperial Sword. Her first win in her homeland (Scotland) and ultimately her last win was on August 8th, at Ayr.

More than 250 people attended the funeral in Lawson Memorial Parish Church, Forfar, where some of them wore red and black, which were Miss Wilson’s racing colours. To honour her achievements and racing ambitions, a red and black saddle and Wilson’s helmet were placed on the coffin, while a screen showed pictures of Miss Wilson’s life at the front of the church.

In other racing news, I should also mention that Gold Cup runner-up Patkai will not be running for the rest of the season because of what’s been described to me as a ‘setback’. It is just hoped that he will improve in time for Royal Ascot next summer.

After winning the Sagaro Stakes at Ascot and ending up second in Sandown’s Henry II Stakes and the Stayer’s championships, he will be joining stablemate Taran Bearer who was also sidelined for the rest of the year after a late withdrawal from the Juddmonte International, because of lameness.