'A legend in his own right' - trainer Sue Smith pays tribute to Midnight Shadow

Sue Smith has paid tribute to the "wonderful" Midnight Shadow, who lost his life in the Sky Bet Chase on Saturday.

Cyril and Aafke Clarke's seven-time winner suffered a fatal injury when making a mistake at the seventh fence at Doncaster.

The trainer said on Sunday: "He was a wonderful horse and it's a big loss, for Mr and Mrs Clarke and for everybody concerned – particularly when you get a nice horse like that; it's tragic."

Smith, who won the bumper at Doncaster and also had a winner at Uttoxeter on Saturday, added: "We had a good day in some ways, but it wasn't very good at the yard last night and these things take a bit of time to get over.

"The owners have taken it on the chin but they're upset about it, and Reece Jarosiewicz, who looked after him all the time, obviously is as well."

Midnight Shadow, who was bought for £28,000 as an unraced three-year-old, earned more than £309,000 in a career which began with a ten-length win in a bumper at Newcastle in 2016.

He won the Scottish Champion Hurdle at Ayr in 2018 and scored notable successes at Cheltenham in the Relkeel Hurdle, the Dipper Novices' Chase and the Paddy Power Gold Cup last November.

Midnight Shadow (Danny Cook) lands the Scottish Champion Hurdle at Ayr in 2018Credit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

"He was a good horse right from day one," Smith said. "He won his bumper, won over hurdles and has gone over to do good things over fences. We were looking forward to seeing if he got the three miles yesterday but it obviously wasn't to be.

"He was a great model of a horse with a great temperament and easy to train. He was brilliant at home and a great credit to everybody that's been concerned with him."

'It doesn't get any easier'

Henry Daly also paid tribute to Whatmore, who suffered a fatal injury in a fall in the 2m4f chase at Cheltenham.

Whatmore: 'He was a good horse and we'll never find out how good'Credit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Last season's Rehearsal Chase runner-up was being aimed at the Ultima Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival and his trainer said: "The owners were naturally very upset. It is very upsetting, you can't get away from it.

"It doesn't matter how long you've been in it. They've owned horses for a very long time but it doesn't get any easier for them. He was a good horse and we'll never find out how good."

Options to be discussed for exciting novice Hillcrest

Promising stablemate Hillcrest could still head to the Cheltenham Festival despite being hampered and unseating his rider at the third flight when 4-5 favourite to complete a four-timer in the Grade 2 novice hurdle later on the Cheltenham card.

Daly will discuss options for the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle and Albert Novices' Hurdle entry with Michael Meagher, racing manager to the late Trevor Hemmings.

Ballymore Novices' Hurdle: racecard and entries

Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle: racecard and entries

"He's fine this morning. We'll see how he goes and we'll come to a decision as to what we're going to do," the trainer said.

"It was very frustrating. We didn't learn any more and he didn't learn any more, which is what it's about with novice hurdles."

Hillcrest: has two options at the Cheltenham FestivalCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

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