John Durkan, the former amateur rider, died yesterday morning after a bravely endured battle against leukaemia. Durkan, 31, who rode 93 winners as a jockey, had plans to set up as a trainer in Newmarket but they were cut short when he was diagnosed with the disease.

His death will lend a terrible poignancy to Sunday's Irish Champion Hurdle, as the favourite Istabraq was discovered by Durkan when he was preparing to start up at Newmarket.

Owner J P McManus paid 38,000 guineas for Istabraq on Durkan's recommendation and the horse was intended to be trained by him until he fell ill at the end of 1996. Istabraq has subsequently won the SunAlliance Hurdle when trained by Aidan O'Brien.

Durkan, one of nine children, was the son of Bill Durkan who trained the remarkable Anaglog's Daughter, winner of the 1980 Arkle Trophy at Cheltenham. As a teenager, he rode the mare in her work and in schooling and became close to Ferdy Murphy who helped prepare the Durkan horses.

"Every day he wanted to learn about horses. When I finally persuaded Charlie Brooks to take him on as pupil assistant, it was a decision he never regretted. It's very sad. He was the most inoffensive young lad there ever was," Murphy said yesterday.

J P McManus, speaking from Barbados, said: "John was a lovely man whose concern through his illness was for his family and friends, not himself. His courage throughout was an inspiration and he will be sadly missed.".

The racecourse photographer Ed Byrne was another good friend, and he commented: "I can't tell you how sad I feel for his folks. His wife Carol has been a star."

After riding winners as an amateur in Ireland, Durkan worked in England including also working as assistant to Oliver Sherwood and John Gosden.

"I can't speak highly enough of him," said Sherwood. "He was very good and had everything at his feet when he was struck down with this horrendous illness. He was a super assistant who knew more about horses than I did.

"It was common knowledge that he persuaded J P to buy Istabraq. I'd spoken to him a few times while he was undergoing treatment and I knew he'd been through hell."

The removal will take place this evening to St Patrick's Church, Glencullen, arriving at 5.0. The funeral will be held after 11.0 Mass tomorrow morning.