Jenny Pitman spent the summer fighting cancer, it was revealed yesterday. The dual Aintree Grand National-winning trainer was first diagnosed with the disease in June and has come through two major operations.

She described the illness in her newly-written book Jenny Pitman The Autobiography - not officially published until November 12th but available at Cheltenham yesterday.

"In June I entered the Royal Marsden Hospital for the removal of what I had been told was a benign cyst from my thyroid but which had turned out to be more serious than expected; the surgeons had found small signs of cancer," she wrote.

"Two weeks later I had a second operation to remove the thyroid gland followed by a course of radio-iodine therapy. It is now completed.

"I have been extremely fortunate to have been treated by a very professional and caring medical team.

"I have been supported by a wonderful gathering of family and friends. They have pushed and cajoled me when I have been worried and anxious, and to be totally honest, the word cancer is far more terrifying than the treatment I have received to cure it.

"The early signs are good but I am not completely out of the woods and I will have a final scan later in November."

Speaking at Cheltenham yesterday she added: "I always thought I would pull through. It wasn't a battle - it was no contest. I was always going to win.

"As far as I'm concerned I'm cured. I feel fine. I'm working out again and it's all behind me. I've got one more visit to the hospital."

Her only runner of the day was Artadoin Lad, who started favourite for the opener and was in a challenging position when falling three out. Mrs Pitman, who won the Irish version at Fairyhouse with Mudahim in 1997, made her name by becoming the first woman to train a winner of the Grand National when Corbiere scored at Aintree in 1983.

She has been associated with the race ever since and won it again with Royal Athlete in 1995.

But she stirred up controversy with her criticism of the course - in a leaked confidential letter - after this year's race, in which three horses were killed, and she has harsh words in her book for the "misleading" Jockey Club report which followed.

"Despite our earlier meetings, I felt that the report was somewhat misleading," she said.

"On receiving the report I telephoned Tony Goodhew to ask what I considered to be the vital question.

"Did you ask people you interviewed for the report if they had actually walked the course on the Saturday morning before the start of the Grand National?

"He said he hadn't, that he'd assumed they had done so!

"I know for a fact that some of the people associated with the race who made statements afterwards had not walked the course, so to compile a report without asking that specific question seemed to be rather like the police taking statements from people in a service station cafe after an accident on the motorway.

"I stand by what I said in my confidential letter to Aintree which I wrote because I care deeply about horses, their welfare and the sport in general.

"My intention was not to damage or try to destroy the race - it seems to me that they are doing that job themselves.

"I also told Tony Goodhew that I was very annoyed that the most serious issue - which I considered to be the state of the ground before this year's National - had not been addressed as clearly and honestly as it should have been."