Wicklow Brave who won Grade 1s over hurdles and on the flat sadly sustained a fatal injury when leading but falling at the final fence in the American Grand National. Wicklow Brave was aiming this December 2019 to win a Grade 1 Novice Chase at the age of 10 to complete what would have been a remarkable achievement to win Grade 1s in all formats. Wicklow Brave also ran in two Melbourne Cups.
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BY EAMON DOGGETT22:36, 19 OCT 2019UPDATED23:06, 19 OCT 2019
Wicklow was one of the most popular horses in training(Image: David Davies/PA)
Former Irish St. Leger and Cheltenham Festival winner Wicklow Brave has died after falling at the final obstacle in the American Grand National on Saturday.
Willie Mullins' ten-year-old gelding was leading going to the last flight of the two mile five furlong race, but he took a crashing fall at Far Hills racecourse in New Jersey.
It later emerged that the ever-popular horse fractured his right shoulder in the fall and had to be put down after the race.
Wicklow Brave started his career in a Punchestown bumper in 2013 and a remarkable career on the track saw him win a Grade 1 over hurdles at the Punchestown Festival, the 2016 Irish St. Leger on the flat and win at the Cheltenham Festival, while this summer he tackled fences for the first time and was three from three over the bigger obstacles.
The winner of over €1,000,000 for his connections, the son of Beat Hollow looked set to pocket another huge pot until his fatal fall at the American track in the hands of jockey Paul Townend.
Nicky Henderson's Brain Power was then left unchallenged to win the race.
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