[Rileyoriley]

Beautiful Sound (Ireland)-9 years old











ELLIOTT REVEALS TRAGIC LOSS OF SOUND

Beautiful Sound, a possible contender for the John Smith's Grand National, has been put down due to a cancerous growth.

The 10-year-old had just six starts under Rules, winning at Punchestown and Fairyhouse before finishing third in the Byrne Group Plate at the Cheltenham Festival last term.

Beautiful Sound also finished a narrow second at the Punchestown Festival but had yet to make his reappearance this term.

Trainer Gordon Elliott revealed that connections had little choice but to have the gelding humanely destroyed due to his illness.

Elliott tweeted: "Heartbreaking decision made today to put down one of our top staying chasers, Beautiful Sound, due to a persistent cancerous growth on his leg that was making life uncomfortable for him.

"Very hard decision but along with his owners we had to do what was best for him.

"Undoubtedly a horse who never got to fulfil his potential. It never seems to happen to the bad ones."