Ballyhampshire Boy succumbs to ligament injuries
Tallow handler Sean Aherne yesterday confirmed that the decision was made on Thursday.
Said Aherne: “He tore the ligaments in his near-hind hock. We were very hopeful he would make a recovery, but began to get worried on Monday.
“There was no hope and he is a dreadful loss. One of my best horses, Polly’s Yan, was killed at Kilbeggan in the summer and, for a small trainer, it is difficult to stomach losing them both.’’
Ballyhampshire Boy appeared to be travelling every bit as well as well as the odds-on Limestone Lad when he took a heavy fall, in the hands of Norman Williamson, and was lame soon afterwards.
“The way he fell at Navan you could see he was in trouble, but we were just hoping for the best. I don’t know how we’re going to replace him,” Aherne added.
Ballyhampshire Boy, of late, had become a very unlucky horse having enjoyed four successive victories last autumn. He was brought down down behind Galileo at Cheltenham in the SunAlliance Novices’ Hurdle, slipped up on the flat at Tipperary behind Intersky Falcon on his reappearance, fell when in front at the third last at Cork and then came to grief alongside Limestone Lad in the Morgiana Hurdle at Navan.
