Campbell Gillies, who rode Brindisi Breeze to victory at this year's Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, has died in an accident on holiday in Kavos, Corfu earlier today.
A Foreign Office spokeswoman said: "We can confirm the death of a British national in Corfu on 26 June. We are providing consular assistance to the family at this difficult time."
An active jockey for six years, Gillies, 21, was a winner of 131 races under rules in Britain, and enjoyed his best ever campaign in 2011/12 with 38 winners. The National Hunt jockey rode 10 winners from 40 rides on March alone earlier this year.
Born in Haddington, East Lothian, Campbell attended the British Racing School and was associated with the Willie Amos-trained Lie Forrit.
He confessed in a March interview with Narrowing the Field less than two weeks after his win at Cheltenham that it was the joint best moment of his career.
"Brindisi Breeze and Lie Forrit. I can’t split them as Brindisi Breeze was my first festival winner and Lie Forrit won at Cheltenham for my family."
Gillies was set to turn 22 on 27 June.
