Many Clouds dies after Thistlecrack upset
CHELTENHAM: Many Clouds, the 2015 Grand National winner, collapsed and died in the shadow of the winning post after upsetting odds-on favourite Thistlecrack in a Gold Cup warm-up at Cheltenham yesterday.
After one of his career-best performances the 10-year-old faltered and fell to the ground, in front of the packed grandstand. Screens were quickly put up around him but veterinary officers were unable to save trainer Oliver Sherwood’s stable star.
“So sorry, we were beaten by a better horse on the day, poor old Many Clouds, this is as sad as it can be,” said Colin Tizzard, trainer of Thistlecrack.
The tragic outcome turned the mood at Cheltenham from one of surprise celebration at Many Cloud’s stirring victory over the ante-post Gold Cup favorite to one of sombre reflection at the loss of one of National Hunt racing’s most cherished equine sons.
Many Clouds, who ran in the colours of British tycoon Trevor Hemmings, owner of second tier English football league side Preston North End, perished after a typically foot-perfect and gutsy performance.
Sent off at 8-1 for the Cotswold Chase he led Thistlecrack over the last and got the better of his year younger rival, the 4-9 favorite, in a no-holdsbarred battle up the famous Cheltenham hill. Many Clouds’ finest hour came at Aintree on April 15, 2015, when he produced an exhilarating exhibition of jumping to land the world’s most famous steeplechase under jockey Leighton Aspell, who was on board as usual for his ill-fated last ever outing.
He returned last year to try to defend his Liverpool crown but had to settle for 16th behind Rule The World.