Alex Murdoch obituary A gentleman, sportsman and very good amateur rider of the Corinthian era, Alex Murdoch very sadly passed away on Saturday aged 82. The Murdoch name is synonymous with Comber, Co Down. The family have for decades grown vegetables and produced barley at the Castle Lane Farm while also making ground available in years past for the North Down point-to-point, traditionally held on Aintree Grand National day. He was always fair in his dealings and, having bought the Unicarnval estate to extend his farming interests, immediately offered any farmers with adjoining land the opportunity to buy bits of ground at cost price they wished to purchase. Fellow farmers could always rely on him to help them out if short of material, plants or machinery. After a long day’s work the horses came next and he continued to ride out after many had hung up their boots. The 60s were a golden time for Alex and his late wife Dorothy who bred 2007 Galway Plate winner Sir Frederick while Castle King, Greek Lad and Snow Marshall were all top horses in their respective fields. The latter won his maiden hunter chase just prior to Laffy winning the Ulster Grand National in 1962, however, an enquiry from the Grand National winning owner, the late Queen Mother, if the horse was for sale found the answer to be no. It was the correct call with the chestnut gelding progressing to win the prestigious Sweet Afton Cup at Dundalk and Joseph O’Reilly Trophy at Fairyhouse. In the 1980s Wolitico was a multiple point-to-point winner and Highlight Lad was a high-class bumper horse partnered by Alex. Both parents were proud of the careers of son, Andrew, who became a major figure in Formula 1 motor racing and daughter, Julia, a physiotherapist who followed in her parents footsteps and rode in point-to-points with the highlight happening at Craigantlet, Co Down when Julia on Hillmount beat her father into second on Ballyalla. Alex is survived by his sisters Eleanor and Nan, son Andrew and daughter, Julia. He will be greatly missed by his very many friends and condolences are offered to the family circle. Funeral arrangements - family home strictly private and burial at 2pm Comber cemetery on Thursday with social distancing and face masks recommended. Ron McKnight
