Sir Alex Ferguson’s close mate and racing legend John Hales dies aged 84 as sport remembers a ‘great man’

SIR ALEX FERGUSON'S adjacent mate and legendary racing proprietor John Hales has sadly died aged 84.

A Grand National-winning proprietor who made his luck making toys, Hales was a titan of racing.

Trainer Paul Nicholls confirmed his bittersweet passing.

The Ditcheat trainer wrote: "It is with large sadness to study that John Hales passed distant past evening.

"A large antheral and a fantastic proprietor and person for galore radical .

"Thoughts with his woman Pat and his fantastic familY. He volition beryllium missed by truthful galore successful racing. RIP John."

More to follow.