THE daughter of a Derby horse trainer who has been missing for more than two weeks is urging anyone who has seen him to call the police.
Cindy Beadling-Brennan said she and the rest of Owen Brennan's family had experienced "the most dreadful Christmas" worrying where he was.
She said her father never left the house without his beloved Jack Russell dog, Paddy, and his disappearance was "totally out of character". Today is Mr Brennan's 78th birthday.
Mrs Beadling-Brennan, 48, of Newark, Nottinghamshire, said: "We just want him to get in contact with us.
"It has been the most dreadful Christmas for all of us.
"My brother, Martin, has flown home from Dubai, where he lives, and my sister, Helen, has flown to the UK from her home in Maryland, USA, with her children to help try and find him.
"We just want anyone who might have seen him or knows where he is to get in contact with the police."
Mr Brennan was last seen by his wife Pat at 4.45pm on Monday, December 17, when he left their home in Wheeldon Avenue.
Police and teams from Derby Mountain Rescue have searched areas of the city where they think he might have been but have failed to find him.
Officers are also searching Welbeck and Worksop, where he has friends.
The couple moved from Newark four years ago to live in Derby after Mr Brennan officially retired from horse training in October 2009, following a successful career spanning 40 years. He was best known for his work with the horses Vulrory's Clown and Speaker Weatherill.
Mr Brennan made a return to the training ranks in February this year, saddling three winners from his new stable at Bretby.
Mrs Beadling-Brennan said: "Pat rang me at 7.30pm on the day Dad went missing to say he was missing and that he had left the house without taking Paddy out, which was unheard of as he never left the house without the dog.
"Me and my husband came over the following morning and spent the day searching all around Derby where we know he goes, even looking in sheds and garages that we came across on the off-chance he might be inside.
"He had a stroke earlier this year, which he takes medication for, so we need to know he is OK.
"We are just sick with worry and I've even joked that if he has some young woman on the go, at least just call us and let us know that he is fine."
Mr Brennan, originally from Ireland, has four children – Martin, 49, Cindy, 48, Helen, 46, who lives in the USA, and Bonnie, 44, who lives in Berkshire.
He also has four grandsons – Aiden, 12, Lorcan, 11, and Derry and Owen, both eight.
A spokesman for Derbyshire police thanked Mrs Beadling-Brennan for coming forward to speak to the media.
He said: "We hope that by putting out an appeal someone who might know where Mr Brennan is will come forward."
