Groom of one of three horses who died at Cheltenham issues heartbreaking statement

Esme Cook looked aft Abuffalosoldier who collapsed soon aft winning the 2.55 race, 1 of 3 horses to suffer their lives astatine Sunday’s meeting

The heartbroken groom of 1 of 3 horses to dice wrong an hr astatine Cheltenham connected Sunday has described her immense loss.

Esme Cook, who works for trainer Warren Greatrex, looked aft Abuffalosolider who was contesting a three-and-a-half mile handicap pursuit connected time 3 of the November meeting.

The 100-30 accidental jumped the people brilliantly to marque each the moving and people by 2 and a 4th lengths nether jockey Sean Bowen.

Bowen completed a post-race interrogation with ITV Racing but past the equine went down earlier the cameras could chopped away. Vets rushed to the assistance of Abuffalosoldier but the seven-year-old could not beryllium saved. A racecourse vet described the incidental arsenic a ‘cardio vascular collapse’.

He passed distant during a brutal hr for the athletics with Bangers And Cash suffering a fatal illness during the aforesaid contention and Napper Tandy sustaining a fatal wounded erstwhile falling successful the Greatwood Hurdle.

A BHA connection released aft the incidents connected Sunday said: "The losses of Abuffalosoldier, Bangers And Cash and Napper Tandy astatine Cheltenham contiguous are a calamity for each connections and the thoughts of each of america astatine the BHA are with them.

"All 3 were provided with outstanding attraction and attraction passim their lives by those who cared for them and cipher volition beryllium much heartbroken contiguous than those individuals. As with each fatalities, we volition question to recognize the circumstances down each incidental arsenic we strive to proceed to trim avoidable hazard successful our sport."

Cook aboriginal added her ain tribute connected Facebook to Abuffalosoldier, saying helium was enjoying himself during the race. “This has perchance been 1 the hardest days successful racing I’ve ever had,” she wrote.

“I cognize determination volition beryllium a batch of backlash astir losing this equine today.. “racehorses aren’t looked aft properly” “it’s cruel” “they shouldn’t beryllium made to bash it”.

“You lone person to person watched this equine contiguous leap and question from obstruction to obstruction with his ears pricked to cognize that helium loved each infinitesimal of his clip retired determination and enactment his bosom connected the line.

“Buffalo was loved and cared for much than anyone volition ever know. I spent each time with him. He was my champion friend.

“He died contiguous doing what helium loved. My bosom is genuinely broken. There’s highs and lows successful this crippled and contiguous has been 1 of toughest."