Gold Cup horse put down after breaking leg

Leading Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup hope Jair Du Cochet has been put down after suffering a tragic injury on the gallops.

The Guillaume Macaire-trained seven-year-old claimed the scalp of dual Gold Cup winner Best Mate at Huntingdon in November and cemented his big-race claims with success in the Pillar Chase at Cheltenham in January.

He had been clear second-favourite for next week’s blue riband.

Jair Du Cochet had been completing his preparations for the Festival on the home gallops when the tragedy occurred.

British vet Buffy Shirley-Beavan was at the Macaire yard and explained what happened.

“He did a sparkling piece of work this morning as part of his final preparations for the Gold Cup, but unfortunately he pulled up lame with a very bad fracture to his off-hind cannon-bone, which sadly could not be repaired,” she said.

“Mr Macaire is very upset and it is the worst possible timing. The horse looked well and did a brilliant piece of work and it’s hard to explain why it should happen.”