ATTIVO`S TRAINER DIES Cyril Mitchell, the former Epsom trainer, died in hospital on Monday at the age of 85. He had only recently returned to England following 26 years retirement in Majorca. Mitchell used to train at Downs House - opposite the Epsom racecourse grandstand - where his son Philip is now based. He will be remembered for his handling of Be Friendly to win the Prix l`Abbaye, two Vernon Sprints and an Ayr Gold Cup, and Attivo to take a Northumberland Plate, Chester Cup and Triumph Hurdle. Both horses were owned by famous commentator Sir Peter O`Sullevan. Another of Cyril`s good horses was Boysie Boy, who once beat Lorenzaccio and was runner-up in the Prix Moulin. Before he turned to training Mitchell was a jockey attached to Bill Payne, grandfather of current Newmarket trainer Pip. He gained his first win on Kakine in an apprentices` race at Lingfield in 1931. When his weight rose he turned to National Hunt riding. Mitchell leaves a widow, Roberta, his son Philip and a daughter Lindy, plus eight grandchildren.
