'He was good but he was quirky' - popular Yorkhill retired after eventful career

Yorkhill, the superstar novice who twice conquered the Cheltenham Festival and cast aside his roguishness to provide one of the standout moments of this jumps season when winning the Rehearsal Chase at Newcastle, has been retired.

The 11-year-old damaged a tendon in preparation for the Sky Bet Chase at Doncaster last month and is set to spend his retirement in a paddock overlooking Cheltenham racecourse, where he produced outstanding performances to win the 2016 Neptune Novices' Hurdle and the 2017 JLT Novices' Chase.

Those festival performances looked set to be a platform for Yorkhill to reach even greater heights, but he instead veered off course. He developed a tendency to jump to his left, at times drastically so, plunging him into a wilderness period during which he attracted a cult following drawn to an equine athlete whose head appeared to hold back his undoubted talent.

David Armstrong, who co-owned Yorkhill with his wife Donna and professional golfer Lee Westwood for his final two runs, including his Newcastle success, said: "He got a tendon injury to his right leg and we've taken the decision that rather than try to get him back we're going to retire him.

"We got one big run out of him and we know how well followed and liked he was around the country and we just want to do right by him. He could have another whole life now doing something different once he's recovered as even though he's a bit of a growler in his box, he's a gentleman when he's ridden."

Recalling three of Yorkhill's most memorable performances on the racecourse

He added: "I'd like to thank Graham and Andrea Wylie for giving us the chance to own Yorkhill and get him back to win after a lot of hard work we all put in. Without them it wouldn't have been possible."

After winning a point-to-point in December 2014, Yorkhill was transferred to Willie Mullins by new owners Graham and Andrea Wylie and he quickly made an impression by landing his first six races under rules, including Grade 1s in the Tolworth, Neptune and Mersey Novices' Hurdle in 2016.

Yorkhill: won the Rehearsal Chase at Newcastle at odds of 66-1 on his final career startCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Switched to fences the following season, Yorkhill won his first three races, headlined by his victory in the JLT Novices' Chase, before losing out to Road To Respect at Fairyhouse when his errant ways burst through and cost him the race.

Following Wylie's decision to step back from racing last year, Yorkhill was gifted to the Armstrongs, who oversaw a rejuvenation programme for the horse at their stables near Blyth, rekindling his enthusiasm with a diverse routine which included beach hacks and varied schooling, before he joined trainer Sandy Thomson for his final two starts.

"It was brilliant to have him here but it was a huge challenge too, and that's why Newcastle meant so much to everybody," Thomson said. "We've seen with Seeyouatmidnight over the years just how many people follow these horses and would be lifted by what he did at Newcastle.

"It was hugely enjoyable having him here. There is some sadness we didn't get the chance to have another pop at something, but there's relief that he'll be retired and be able to be active in it as well as I think he'll love it. We're just delighted to have been able to have done something with him most people didn't think was possible."

Yorkhill's final run came in the Listed Rehearsal Chase at Newcastle in November when he repelled Whatmore to win at 66-1, and Westwood said he felt the veteran was "going out on a high".

He said: "I think people were drawn to him by how good he was but also that he was quirky.

"What made Newcastle special was that it was proving to everyone that he'd still got it. People had written him off and were saying he wasn't capable anymore, but he came back and he won a big race beating some good horses. I was more pleased for the horse and everyone involved in getting him back as much as anything else.

"He's going out on a high. It's a rollercoaster owning racehorses and I'm pleased he's going out the way he is. We'd have obviously liked to have kept on running him and given him more great days, but in the grand scheme of things it's not a bad way to finish."

Yorkhill: enjoyed success for owners Graham and Andrea Wylie before switching yardsCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Following his recuperation, Yorkhill will join Ben Hastie, the head of groundstaff and estates at Cheltenham, and his partner Racheal Kneller with his retirement paddock overlooking the back straight at the course.

Hastie said: "Racheal does a lot of things with the horses like arena eventing, fun rides and we go out in the summer together so it's a case of seeing what Yorkhill wants to do and what Dave would like him to do.

"It was fantastic for him to do what he did at Newcastle when everyone had written him off. To finish on that win is quite apt."

Read more on Yorkhill:

Yorkhill: the efforts to revitalise an enigma wrapped in a mystery

Yorkhill transformation a feat which deserves joyous celebration

Lee Westwood in tears as 66-1 shot Yorkhill rolls back the years in Rehearsal

'We tried all different things' – how sour Yorkhill became a rogue reborn

For all our exclusive free bet offers and must-have daily promotions click the free bets button or go to racingpost.com/freebets