Dual Grade 1 winner Identity Thief suffers fatal injury at Navan

Henry de Bromhead paid tribute to Identity Thief after the popular hurdler suffered a fatal injury in the Lismullen Hurdle at Navan on Sunday.

The Gigginstown House Stud-owned eight-year-old, who won seven times and twice at Grade 1 level, was pulled up sharply between the final two flights in a race won by Apple's Jade.

Identity Thief was trained throughout his career by De Bromhead and won more than £325,000 in prize-money, showing versatility by winning the 2015 Fighting Fifth Hurdle over two miles at Newcastle and the Ryanair Stayers Hurdle over three miles at Aintree in April.

The trainer said: "I'm absolutely gutted to lose him like that. He has been a fantastic horse for us over the years.

"He was brilliant at Aintree but I suppose the day we will remember the most was when he won the Fighting Fifth as that was my first Grade 1 winner for Gigginstown. He will be sorely missed around here."

Identity Thief made a stunning winning debut at Fairyhouse in November 2014, surging clear to win by three lengths at 25-1. The following season he was a big player at the highest level, finishing runner-up in two Grade 1s in addition to landing the Fighting Fifth.

He failed to show his best when switched to fences in 2017 – though he did win twice, including at Grade 2 level – but proved better than ever last season when winning by five lengths on Grand National day.

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