Racing: Five horses killed on black day for Cheltenham

The one real shadow over this year's Festival meeting has been a grim number of equine fatalities. Five horses died yesterday to bring the total to seven for the week. "Even one death is regrettable," Edward Gillespie, the managing director of Cheltenham, said,"but there is no pattern to the accidents this week."

Those who have been lost are Bayard (broken leg); No Where To Hyde (broken leg) and, yesterday, Holy Orders (broken left hind); Olaso (broken front cannon between obstacles); Basilea Star (collapsed and died); Millenaire (broken back); Mr Babbage (broken humerus). "All were associated with falls, except Olaso," Gillespie added.