Like-A-Butterfly succumbs to colic
A winner of 12 of her 17 career starts, the JP McManus-owned Like-A-Butterfly was one of the most popular Irish-trained horses in recent memory.
A winner at Grade One level in the bumper sphere, the Christy Roche trained mare was unbeaten in her first five starts over obstacles, raising the roof when justifying favouritism in the 2002 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.
A year later she claimed the Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown and although she disappointed in the Champion Hurdle itself that March, she went on to win three times from five appearances over fences, including the Powers Gold Cup at Fairyhouse.
She signed off her racing career with a win in the Mildmay Novices’ Chase at the 2005 Grand National meeting at Aintree.
