Sir Henry Cecil

Despite his racing pedigree, and the immediate proximity of a successful racing stable, the Old Canfordian showed little interest in racing during his school days.

But later Cecil was responsible for training 25 British Classic winners and recorded 75 Ascot winners. He was knighted in 2011.

In a statement, Canford School said: “Everyone at Canford is saddened to hear the news of the death of one of its best-known Old Canfordians, Sir Henry Cecil. Our thoughts are with his family and friends.”

Describing his approach to training, Cecil once said: “I do everything by instinct really, not by the book.

“I like to think I’ve got a feeling for and understand my horses; that they tell me what to do really.”

Born on January 11, 1943 in a hospital near Aberdeen, Henry Cecil was educated at Sunningdale School and Canford.

He described himself as “very late-maturing and backward”, explaining that he was the first boy from his prep school to fail the Common Entrance to Eton.

After leaving school he went to work at the Earl of Derby’s Woodland Stud in Newmarket, Suffolk, taking out his own licence to train in 1969 and he had his first winner with Celestial Cloud at Ripon on May 17.

His first Royal Ascot winner came the following year.

Among the jockeys to ride for Cecil the most notable were Steve Cauthen, Lester Piggott, Joe Mercer, Kieren Fallon, Pat Eddery and Tom Queally.

Habitually self-deprecating, he often gave the impression in post-victory interviews that he had had very little to do with it and this was just another very talented horse which happened to have turned up in his stable.

But the good times were followed by dreadful experiences, notably the death from cancer of his twin brother David.

Cecil passed away in hospital in Cambridge. Racing broadcaster Derek Thompson called him “the greatest trainer of all time” while trainer Paul Nicholls referred to Cecil as “a true legend”.

TV presenter Clare Balding described Cecil as “one of the true greats and a gentleman”.