Three-time Cheltenham Festival winner Sire Du Berlais has suffered a fatal injury in the Champion Stayers Hurdle at Punchestown. The 36-time race winner pulled up injured three hurdles from the finish and it was later confirmed that the issue was fatal.

The 12-year-old was rode by Mark Walsh but the Punchestown Festival ended up being Sire Du Berlais’ final effort, in devastating news to fans and owner JP McManus.

Trainer Gordon Elliott spoke to Racing TV as he paid tribute to the three-time Cheltenham Festival winner, explaining how he was “heartbroken” to discover the worst possible outcome.

“Absolutely heartbroken,” the trainer said. “He’s been the horse of a lifetime for us at Cullentra and everyone is in bits over there, the girls and the lads in Ireland. He’s been unbelievable so we are all gutted. All thoughts to JP, Noreen and the whole family.

“It takes the gloss off the whole week to be honest, (I’m) heartbroken. He was just the horse of a lifetime, you couldn’t write what he’s done for us. He always wore his heart on his sleeve, a great horse.”

He amassed a huge £744,683 prize money across an incredible career on the track, finishing in a commendable fifth place in the Stayers Hurdle at this year’s Cheltenham Festival, before heading to Punchestown.