Kalif Du Berlais suffers fatal injury at Kempton

Kalif Du Berlais and Harry Cobden win for trainer Paul Nicholls at Aintree last April. Pic: Healy Racing

Paul Nicholls described the loss of Kalif Du Berlais as “a real kick in the teeth” after the talented chaser was fatally injured in the Silviniaco Conti Chase at Kempton.

One of four runners in the Grade Two contest, the six-year-old appeared to make a jumping error that unseated rider Harry Cobden before leaving him lame on landing.

The racecourse veterinary team treated him immediately, but the Grade One-winning gelding – whose ownership group includes Sir Alex Ferguson – was unable to be saved.

Nicholls said: “It’s a sad day when you lose horses like that, it’s hard on the whole team. It’s a big kick in the teeth for everyone, the owners, the poor girl who looks after him – you hate to see that happen.

“He was just showing his class today, he jumped and travelled well and sadly now he will never be able to show the potential we thought he had.

“I can say as much as I like, but it’s just a shame for the whole team and a real kick in the teeth. Harry was extremely upset and is missing his ride in the last as he doesn’t feel great about it.

“He’s a big, bold horse who attacks his fences and those horses, when they do that, can end up having a bad fall.

“He was enthusiastic today and travelling beautifully and we’ll never know where we would have ended up, we’ve always had a lot of faith in him.

“These things happen sadly and we’ll have to try to pick ourselves up and move forward.

“These horses get the best of everything, there’s not much you can say to make it better at this point.

“It never gets any easier when these things happen and it’s a big old blow today.

“Thankfully the vets were right on the scene and they say he broke his shoulder, he’s gone there (to the fence) full of enthusiasm, winged it and then in the air changed his mind and landed awkwardly, it’s just sad.

“He’s won a Grade One and had a big future, there is no doubt about that, but we’re not going to know how big sadly.” A statement from the racecourse said: “In our fifth race of the day Kalif Du Berlais sustained an injury and was immediately attended to by our veterinary teams.

“They determined that the best course of action for the horse’s welfare was for him to be humanely euthanised. All our thoughts are with the Paul Nicholls team and Kalif Du Berlais’ connections.” There was another fatal injury on the same afternoon as Harry Derham’s Wertpol fell heavily at the last flight when running a big race in the juvenile hurdle.

An ITV Racing statement on both deaths said: “We are deeply saddened to report the loss of Wertpol and Kalif Du Berlais. In both instances, the horses were immediately attended to by expert veterinary teams after sustaining injuries during their respective races but sadly could not be saved.

“Our heartfelt condolences and thoughts are with their connections during this difficult time.”