Action on the Lanzarote Hurdle card at Kempton Park on Saturday was marred by the death of talented chaser
Kalif Du Berlais in the Silviniaco Conti Chase.
One of four runners in the Grade Two contest, the Paul Nicholls-trained six-year-old appeared to make a jumping error that unseated rider Harry Skelton before leaving him lame on landing.
The racecourse vets treated him immediately, but the Grade One-winning gelding, whose ownership group includes Sir Alex Ferguson – was unable to be saved.
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.”