Brave Rathgar retired

Rathgar Beau, winner of the Champion Chase at the 2005 Punchestown Festival, has been retired by trainer Dusty Sheehy after the recurrence of a tendon problem.

The 12-year-old missed all of 2007 with the injury, which has reared its head following the veteran’s latest run when he was pulled up on a trip across the Irish sea to Huntingdon.

Rathgar Beau won nine of his 40 starts, and enjoyed his finest hour when denying the great Moscow Flyer by an agonisingly close short head three years ago.

Sheehy said: “His old leg injury has resurfaced so we have decided to call time and retire him.

“He has been a super horse and a dream to train. He was a great flagbearer for the yard and helped to get new owners in.

“Horses like Rathgar Beau are what it is all about, and our best day with him was when he beat Moscow Flyer at the Punchestown Festival.”