Tributes have been pouring in from the racing world for the hugely-popular Sea Pigeon, one of the greatest hurdlers of post-war years, who has died at the age of 30.

The 'grand old man' of Ryedale racing, who has spent a wonderful retirement with Polly Perkins at Slingsby, was put down on Tuesday night after a bone in his foot deteriorated so badly that he could not recover.

He was being buried alongside his former stablemate and old adversary Night Nurse at Habton Grange, where both superstars were trained by Peter Easterby.

"It is doubtful if we will ever see another like him," said Easterby.

Jonjo O'Neill, now a leading trainer, who rode Sea Pigeon to the first of his Champion Hurdle successes in 1980 said: "He was the best I ever rode, a fantastic horse with a blinding turn of speed. It is very sad, poor old lad. He was fantastic really."

The horse returned to Cheltenham the following year to successfully defend his title under John Francome.

"He was a horse in a million," recalled Francome. "I don't think I ever rode one who could quicken like he could at the end of a top-class race."

Racing journalist Lord Oaksey said: "I would rate him as the greatest all-rounder I ever saw. He was always the most exciting hurdler to watch, always coming with that strong late burst."

"Polly Perkins has been looking after him for the last ten years. We formed a trust about ten years ago called the Sea Pigeon Trust and people contributed very generously to that and that has been keeping him going."

Sea Pigeon - like Night Nurse - won two Champion Hurdles among his highly distinguished jumping career, and also won two Chester Cups and an Ebor Handicap on the Flat in 1979.

His remarkable record embraced no fewer than 37 victories - 21 on the Flat and 16 over jumps -from 85 races under both codes.

He began his career in training with Jeremy Tree, before moving to Gordon Richards and then to Easterby.

Sea Pigeon's multi-purpose talents also made him a formidable opponent on the Flat, where his greatest triumph was achieved, at the age of nine in the 1979 Tote-Ebor Handicap at York under top-weight of 10st with O'Neill in the saddle.

Easterby recalled the jockey's near-costly mishap of stopping riding just before the line, which forced a photo-finish with Donegal Prince failing by only a short-head to lift the prize.

"Jonjo gave us heart-failure," said Easterby, who held Sea Pigeon close to his heart. "He had ability, as simple as that. When John Francome rode him to his second Champion Hurdle win, it was a masterpiece of riding. We had some great days and bad heads because of him," he joked. "I think the champagne was flowing down the stands the day he won the Ebor!"

There was another unforgettable success as he added: "My son Tim rode him in the Moet & Chandon (for amateur riders) at Epsom as a 16-year-old.

"He had never even been there before let alone having ridden there, that was a good day."

Top northern flat jockey Mark Birch, who lived across the road from Sea Pigeon in Slingsby during the great horse's retirement years, piloted Sea Pigeon to two victories in the Chester Cup in 1977 and 1978.

Evening Press tipster and Racing Post writer Tom O'Ryan, who rode out on Sea Pigeon as an apprentice, said: "Sea Pigeon's passing is the end of a great life and of a great horse. It is the end of an era."

"The rare privilege of sitting on him in a bit of work was like travelling in a Rolls-Royce. Ultra-smooth, with a high cruising speed, an impressive change of gears, plus overdrive."

Fittingly, Sea Pigeon annually appeared on Knavesmire during his long retirement to lead out the runners for the Ebor, a duty which he duly carried out again in August. His last public appearance was at last month's Malton Stables Open Day when he took part of the Parade of Champions with Desert Orchid and Jodami.