ON THE FIRST day at Aintree, officials have confirmed that Battlefront was a fatality during the John Smith’s Fox Hunters’ Chase earlier.
The race, over two miles and five furlongs of the National course, was won by 100-1 shot Tartan Snow.
Battlefront, an 11-year-old trained by well-known RTÉ and Channel 4 pundit Ted Walsh and ridden by his daughter, Katie, pulled up at the 11th fence.
“We are sad to confirm that Battlefront was pulled up at fence 11 by his jockey Katie Walsh and sadly shortly afterwards he collapsed and died,” Professor Chris Proudman, Aintree racecourse veterinary advisor said.
John Baker, regional director for Jockey Club Racecourses, added: “I would like to extend our sympathies to the Walsh family following this sad news.”
Katie Walsh again teams up with her father on Saturday when Seabass goes in the National.
Good on him but it won’t change the public opinion that he is still a drug cheat and should get a 500 game ban not a 50 game ban