Many Clouds dies after Thistlecrack upset

CHELTENHAM, United Kingdom — Many Clouds, the 2015 Grand National winner, collapsed and died in the shadow of the winning post after upsetting odds-on favorite Thistlecrack in a Gold Cup warm-up at Cheltenham on Saturday. 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 somber reflection at the loss of one of National Hunt racing's most cherished equine sons. Many Clouds, who ran in the colors 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-holds-barred 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. He also won the 2014 Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury. Tizzard, reflecting on the tragic outcome to a fine race, told ITV: "This is what happens in our sport occasionally and you've got to face up to it." Nathan Horrocks, Many Clouds' work rider at Sherwood's stable on the gallops, told Racing UK: "It's a shock, from shouting him home to 10 minutes later he's not even with us. "He's a massive loss for everybody, he's of huge importance to the yard but also to (jumps training center) Lambourn and the sport. "He captured the nation, but that is our sport — it makes us love it and hate it." He added: "What was great about him, and was also his downfall, was that he didn't know when to quit." — AFP