Racing and bookie legend Barry Dennis, who found fame on Channel 4 alongside John McCririck, dies aged 83

RACING and bookie fable Barry Dennis - who recovered fame alongside John McCririck connected Channel 4 - has died aged 83.

An icon of the betting ringing and immense property who wasn't acrophobic to talk his mind, Dennis' back-and-forths with McCririck connected the hugely fashionable Morning Line amusement were simply must-see TV.

Punters everyplace dreaded uncovering retired they had backed his 'Barry Bismarck' - a favourite helium thought would lose.

A larger-than-life quality who yet became 'Britain's champion known bookie', Dennis stake connected way for much than 40 years and seldom missed a gathering astatine Lingfield.

He was a existent workaholic who loved the game, driving much than 50,000 miles to tracks each implicit the state and moving 300 days a year.

Never acrophobic to laic a large bet, helium said helium mislaid his location successful Frankie Dettori's Magnificent Seven astatine Ascot successful 1996.

But helium besides starred successful his ain documentary called 'Bookies Never Lose' and turned implicit astir £15million a twelvemonth astatine his peak.

Fellow bookie Geoff Banks was among those paying tribute to a leader of many.

He said: "Oh my God. I americium truthful precise bittersweet to perceive of the passing of a large person and a elephantine of the betting ring."

Leading manufacture fig Ben Keith said: "He had a overmuch bigger bosom than radical realised.

"He reached retired to people, had a large mode of loving and helium was without uncertainty the on-course bookmaker of his generation.

"He captured the sentiment, the moment, with John McCririck, with his Bismarck… radical utilized to huddle circular his transportation conscionable listening to him being rude to radical astatine Royal Ascot!

"He was the large brag astatine Lingfield, wherever helium played astatine home.

"I observe the beingness of Barry Dennis. He is an illustration to america all. He lived, loved and worked connected his ain terms. A existent alpha male."

More to follow.