Cheltenham Festival winner Vautour put down

Three-time Cheltenham Festival winner Vautour has been put down after breaking his leg in an accident on Sunday.

The Willie Mullins-trained seven-year-old was victorious at the Festival in each of the last three years, winning the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle in 2014, the JLT Novices’ Chase 12 months later and the Ryanair Chase during this year’s event at Prestbury Park.

Mullins himself confirmed the news of Vautour’s passing on Sunday evening, revealing that the accident had taken place in the paddock at the trainer’s Irish base.

“He broke a foreleg and has had to be put down,” Mullins told The Racing Post. “One of the girls went out to feed him in the paddock and found he had broken his foreleg. He goes out there every day and it’s a freak accident. It’s very tough to take.”

Vautour had been expected to run in the Gold Cup at the 2017 Cheltenham Festival, where he had been tipped to challenge the likes of Thistlecrack and Don Cossack for overall glory.