Born in Wetherby in 1960, Bradley was destined to become part of the racing world, with his father Norman being an established trainer.

The young Bradley grew up obsessed with the sport, frequently practising his would-be jockey moves in the solace of his bedroom.

He rode his first winner shortly after turning 20 and it did not take him long to make a permanent mark on the world of National Hunt racing.

As part of the flourishing Michael Dickenson stable, Bradley's profile grew and he won the Hennessy Gold Cup in 1982 and the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 1983.

Aside from the Grand National, he accomplished almost everything a jockey could during his 20-year career in the saddle.

But during that time, his name made the headlines for the wrong reasons.

In 1982, he was suspended for two months for placing a bet whilst in the ring.

Five years later, he was banned from the track for three months for not trying on Deadly Going at Market Rasen.

And in 1999, he was arrested and charged as part of a long-running investigation into alleged race-fixing.

The charges were later dropped.

Fears that Bradley's profile may have faded during his post-jockey years were laid to rest when he took up a position as a bloodstock agent.

Among his most famous clients are England football internationals Robbie Fowler and Steve McManaman.

He has bought four horses for the pair, whose partnership known as the "Anfield Hombres" has flourished with frequent winner Auetaler.

Among his other famous finds is the horse Vicious Circle, who subsequently triumphed at the Ebor in 1999.

A career in the sport is now almost certainly over after an eight-year ban imposed by the Jockey Club for bringing racing into disrepute.

The ban resulted from Bradley's revelations that he had passed on "sensitive racing information" to cocaine smuggler Brian Wright.

That disclosure, made during his appearance as a character witness for fellow jockey Barrie Wright at Southampton Crown Court last year, landed him before a Jockey Club disciplinary committee.

Bradley acknowledged a friendship with Brian Wright in his autobiography "The Wayward Lad".

That friendship has now ended any real hopes of building a successful career in top-flight racing.