RIP Granit Jack and Willyanwoody

[NoChanceToDance]

Dreadful day for Paul Nicholls, really feeling for him and the horses connections.

Two very promising horses, and they both lose their lives in the same day.

So much was expected by both of them and now we will never see them again

[my miss storm cat]

Oh Jesus, that awful.

Rest in peace.

I was excited about seeing Jack.....

[NoChanceToDance]

Originally Posted by my miss storm cat

Oh Jesus, that awful.

Rest in peace.

I was excited about seeing Jack.....

'Jack' didn't even make a mistake, he just knuckled on landing and that isn't usually a problem. After doing that, a horse will get up and just be a little sore.

99 times out of 100 you'd expect a horse to get up from that, but this time it wasn't to be.

I was also very exicited about him, he could have been anything ya know, the sky was the limit for him and although you can't be certain, he looked like he was going to win easily today when he fell.

I'm afraid i cannot say the same about Willyanwoody, he suffered one of the worst falls i have ever seen and i just pray that he felt no pain. It was a horrific fall.

[brockguy]

yeah Woody's fall was a shocker and Jesus, I'm surprised Ruby only suffered a dislocated shoulder. Certainly a bad day at Cheltenham, but it was good to see Sir Rembrandt get a well deserved win and the story of Sonnyandjoe is certainly one to warm the heart.

[NoChanceToDance]

Ruby was lucky to escape with his life really, it doesn't bare thinking what might have happened with Willyanwoody had rolled back on top of Ruby.

We could quite easily have been talking about the death of one of the best NH jockeys in recent years.

I was surprised but also relieved to read that Granit Jack felt no pain. Unfortunately, WillyanWoody had to be put to sleep. I'm really he had to feel anything.


* * *

From RP...

by Rodney Masters



THE Paul Nicholls camp endured a day of woe at Cheltenham on Saturday when potential star chaser Granit Jack was one of two horses killed and number one jockey Ruby Walsh sustained a badly dislocated shoulder.

Granit Jack and Willyanwoody were killed in action when falling at the notoriously tricky penultimate fence and third-last respectively; Granit Jack broke his neck and died instantly, Willyanwoody fractured his back and was put down.

Ruby Walsh was crushed underneath Willyanwoody and sustained a dislocated right shoulder. He could be out of action for a month or more.

Walsh's sister and agent Jennifer said her brother was sedated in the racecourse medical centre before the shoulder joint was repositioned. He was later taken to Cheltenham General Hospital, where his wife Gillian waswith him, and they were joined by Jennifer.

Jennifer Walsh said: "He is in a lot pain, but it could have been much, much worse.

"I imagine he will be out for a few weeks, but we're not quite sure at the moment."

Earlier, while being updated with news of his stable jockey, Nicholls was busy organising a deputy for Granit Jack, favourite for the Paddy Power Gold Cup.

Conditional Liam Heard was invited to speed up his journey from Uttoxeter to fill the void because he fitted the bill for three good reasons - he can do 10st, he had schooled Granit Jack the previous day and, lastly, he had ridden winners for Granit Jack's owner, John Hales.

While he waited for Heard, Nicholls said that Sam Thomas would be first choice deputy for Walsh, and his rides would include Horse of the Year Kauto Star at Haydock next weekend.

Nicholls said if Heard had not made the racecourse by the weigh out deadline of 2.20pm, the horse would be withdrawn and take up his engagement on Saturday at Cheltenham. Heard dashed in at 2.08pm and had time for a cup of tea.

In the race, he had the grey ideally positioned throughout, giving him a good view of the fences. They joined the leaders at the top of the hill, travelling by far the easiest. Possibly that factor led to his fall. He jumped the fence perfectly, but his momentum sent him toppling forward. He stumbled for a stride and came down.

Hales, who lost his champion chase winner One Man in similar circumstances at Aintree several years ago,was inconsolable and in tears.

Nicholls put his arm around the shoulders of the distraught Heard, and told him repeatedly that the fall was not his fault.

Nicholls, when he had gathered his thoughts, said: “What can you say? I've had runners throughout the afternoon, so I've not really had time to reflect.

“Granit Jack was just damned unlucky. Liam couldn't have done anything different. He gave the horse a brilliant ride. I'm gutted for him as a win in a race like this would have been brilliant for his career.”

The trainer added: “The only good thing was that Granit Jack would have known nothing about it.

“Everything I said was right about the horse. He looked well handicapped, and he was well handicapped. We'd left no stone unturned.I schooled him last week, and I wasn't worried about his jumping.

“For some reasons it's always the good ones that fall at that fence. It's the ones that are going too well. It's the momentum that brings them down. I always think what we could have done different? But there was nothing.”

Nicholls added: “There's such a fine line between victory and defeat sometimes, and now it's a tragedy.

“I'm sad for everyone and the girl who looks after him is devastated. We're all mortified, but it's no good looking back.”