The passing of two-time Coral Cup winner Langer Dan proved to be a fittingly sombre beginning to a tough weekend of news in the horse racing world. The enigmatic Cheltenham Festival hero dies at the age of ten, with Dan Skelton paying tribute, while we also cover further unfortunate passings at Kempton and some Cheltenham Festival clues in Monday’s racing news round-up.
Today’s Racing round-up
Two-time Cheltenham Festival winner Langer Dan has died at the age of ten, with tributes paid to the dual Coral Cup hero. His trainer Dan Skelton said “we will never forget what he achieved on the racecourse and he will be greatly missed by all,” after one of racing’s great modern characters passed away from a recurring heart condition. His two wins in the Coral Cup came at the 2023 and 2024 Cheltenham Festivals, while he was also third in the Grade 1 Aintree Hurdle in 2024. (The Sun)
The racing world was in mourning on Saturday afternoon too after Grade 1 winner Kalif Du Berlais suffered a fatal injury in the Grade 2 Silviniaco Conti Chase at Kempton. The horse was part-owned by former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, and carried his colours to glory most notably at Aintree last season. The six-year-old made a mistake at the ninth fence at Kempton, with his injuries after unshipping Harry Cobden proving to be untreatable. The race was won by 12-year-old veteran Edwardstone. (The Mirror)
Kalif Du Berlais’ passing was not the only one on a difficult Saturday for racing at Kempton. Both Wertpol and Peso were euthanised after falling at the last and oulling up respectively in two further races at the Surrey venue. A press release from the British Horseracing Authority referred to their “fatality review process” and “wider and ongoing efforts” to ensure the safety of horses at their racecourses after the meeting. (The Guardian)
“We are deeply saddened by the fatal injuries sustained by Kalif Du Berlais, Wertpol and Peso at Kempton Park today. At this stage there does not appear to be any common factor that can be attributed to these incidents, with each of the injuries different in nature and sustained in unique circumstances.”
The big result of the weekend saw Nicky Henderson’s Iberico Lord claim victory in the Lanzarote Hurdle. The 2m5f handicap was turned into a procession as the eight-year-old, owned by JP McManus, careered away up the run-in to defeat Double Powerful by 4 1/2 lengths. Having won the 2024 Betfair Hurdle and gone off just 11/1 for that year’s Champion Hurdle, Iberico Lord had endured a tricky run of results this season, but bounced firmly back to his best on Saturday under James Bowen. (Racing TV)
There is a new Willie Mullins novice hurdler for everyone’s Cheltenham Festival radar after Sober claimed success in the Grade 2 Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle at Punchestown on Sunday afternoon. The seven-year-old had already shot to prominence when victorious in the Queen Alexandra Stakes at Royal Ascot in 2025, but having not been seen since, he produced a composed display in a race his trainer has now won for five successive seasons, ultimately defeating odds-on favourite Road Exile, trained by Gordon Elliott, by 5 1/2 lengths. (Sporting Life)
Meanwhile, Nico De Boinville faces a race against time to be fit for this Saturday’s Grade 1 Clarence House Chase at Ascot. The number one rider for Nicky Henderson’s Seven Barrows yard has not been in action since New Year’s Day, when taking a fall from Excello, and is therefore battling to make a big race ride aboard Jonbon on Saturday. The contest is the first Grade 1 on the calendar in Great Britain, with Jonbon’s rivals potentially including the progressive Thistle Ask. (Racing Post)
Lastly, in global racing news, a fire at Lindsay Park in Australia has claimed the lives of seven racehorses, with one more in a critical condition. The property, from which JD and Will Hayes send out runners, was engulfed in flames on Sunday, with the family releasing a statement saying “Now that all horses on the property have been accounted for and assessed, Lindsay Park can confirm that seven horses have tragically been lost from injuries sustained in the fire.” The brothers’ father is David Hayes, who trains star Hong Kong sprinter Ka Ying Rising. (News.com)