‘An utterly miserable day’: Kempton Park meeting marred by death of three horses

The Lanzarote Hurdle card at Kempton Park was marred by the death of three horses, including the Grade One-winning Kalif Du Berlais, whose loss Paul Nicholls described as “a big kick in the teeth” and a “sad day”.

Kalif Du Berlais – whose ownership group includes Sir Alex Ferguson – unseated Harry Cobden in the four-runner Coral Silviniaco Conti Chase and landed lame, with the broken shoulder he sustained proving untreatable and he was euthanised by the veterinary team on Saturday.

Nicholls said: “It’s a sad day when you lose horses like that, it’s hard on the whole team. It’s a big kick in the teeth for everyone, the owners, the poor girl who looks after him – you hate to see that happen. He was just showing his class today, he jumped and travelled well and sadly now he will never be able to show the potential we thought he had.

“I can say as much as I like, but it’s just a shame for the whole team. Harry was extremely upset and is missing his ride in the last as he doesn’t feel great about it. He’s a big, bold horse who attacks his fences and those horses, when they do that, can end up having a bad fall.

“He was enthusiastic today and travelling beautifully and we’ll never know where we would have ended up, we’ve always had a lot of faith in him. These things happen, sadly, and we’ll have to try to pick ourselves up and move forward. These horses get the best of everything, there’s not much you can say to make it better at this point.

“It never gets any easier when these things happen and it’s a big old blow.”

In the Coral Daily Rewards Shaker Handicap Chase, Jonjo and AJ O’Neill’s Peso was pulled up on the flat with an injury that could not be treated, leaving racecourse vets with no choice but to euthanise him.

Harry Derham saddled Wertpol for the juvenile hurdle and the horse looked to be running a huge race before falling at the last and sustaining a life-ending injury. Derham said on his X account: “An utterly miserable day at Kempton Park today losing Wertpol who we only had the good fortune of having in our yard for a short period of time.

‘It’s a sad day when you lose horses like that, it’s hard on the whole team. It’s a big kick in the teeth for everyone,’ said Paul Nicholls. Photograph: Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images

“He was a bright talent who was fresh and happy doing his work every day, often playing around and expressing himself. He loved his job and I am so sad for his Heart Of The South syndicate, who are the most wonderful group of people. Racing can at times be a painful sport and today has been a tough day for a number of connections. A day to forget.”

A spokesperson for Kempton Park said: “All of us at Kempton Park care deeply about the welfare of all racehorses, as do the thousands of racing staff who provide them with world-class levels of care at home every day. Our heartfelt condolences are with the connections of all three horses.”