Corbetts Cross dies after suffering fall at Cheltenham Festival

Corbetts Cross has died, aged eight, after suffering a heavy fall during the Gold Cup Chase at Cheltenham Festival on Friday afternoon.

The racehorse, ridden by Irish Jockey Jack Kennedy, sustained fatal injuries towards the end of the fifth race of the day.

Corbetts Cross was in the chasing pack heading to the final stages, but fell while leaping over a fence.

It was quickly attended to by veterinary professionals, as it lay wounded on the ground, before being taken away in a horse ambulance.

An official statement from Cheltenham read: 'In our fifth race of the day, Corbetts Cross was immediately attended to by our veterinary professionals, but sadly sustained a fatal injury. Our heartfelt condolences are with his connections.'

ITV Racing presenter Ed Chamberlin also shared his condolences while breaking the news live on air.

He said: 'I'm afraid though the news about Corbetts Cross is the news we feared... which is so sad for J. P. McManus, taking the gloss off winning with Inothewayurthinkin. J.P. is a man who loves his horses so much, our condolences to Jack Kennedy, who rode, the whole team. A sad post-script to the Gold Cup I'm afraid.'

Corbetts Cross becomes the 78th horse to suffer a fatal injury at Cheltenham since 2000, and the second at this year's festival.

On Thursday, eight-year-old bay gelding Springwell Bay also died after suffering a fall in the Jack Richards Novices' Limited Handicap. 

Shortly after Friday's incident, Iain Green, the director of Animal Aid, released a statement condemning the 'punishment' of racehorses at Cheltenham Festival.

He said: 'This is not a "festival", this is a horror film; these are not "athletes", these are innocent animals who have no choice but to run for their lives on a racecourse designed to punish them. As the industry hides behind cowardly statements and glossy marketing schemes, Animal Aid works tirelessly to bring the suffering of these poor victims into the light - and we will not stop until this pathetic excuse for a sport is gone for good.'