Cheltenham marred by three fatalities

Three horses suffered fatal injuries on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival.

Scotsirish, favourite for the Glenfarclas Handicap Chase on the cross-country course, and six-times winner over the unique track Garde Champetre were put down after what was the fifth race on the card.

The race was run on ground officially described as good to firm, watered in parts at the start of the day.

Willie Mullins, trainer of Scotsirish, said: "He picked up an injury jumping the Canal Turn fence.

"It's unfortunate as I thought he'd have gone very close.

"I'd been delighted with the way he'd taken to the discipline, but I've got no complaints about the ground whatsoever."

Garde Champetre had lost his action and was pulled up quickly by Nina Carberry and dismounted.

Educated Evans, trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies, fell two out in the concluding event of the day, the Pulteney Land Investments Novices' Handicap Chase.

Clerk of the course Simon Claisse said: "Regrettably we had three fatalities, two in the cross-country race. We'd had 27 races and 375 runners on the (cross-country) course since 2000 and up until today only one fatality.

"We try to minimise the risk as much as we can, but sadly these things happen."