David Pipe hails Caspian Caviar hero Warthog after freak fatal injury

David Pipe paid tribute to Caspian Caviar Gold Cup winner Warthog after the grey suffered a fatal injury in the Grade 3 handicap chase at Cheltenham.

The eight-year-old, who produced a career-best effort when narrowly denying Spiritofthegames last month, was quickly pulled up by David Noonan after jumping the first fence but it was discovered that he sustained a fracture and was subsequently put down.

Pipe, who had some compensation with Ramses De Teillee's Grade 2 victory at Doncaster, tweeted: "It is with a heavy heart that I have to report that Warthog was fatally injured today. Fly high big lad, thank you for the great days."

The winner of two of his 14 starts under rules, Warthog was owned by Professor Caroline Tisdall and Bryan Drew, and won £108,053 in prize-money.

Cheltenham's clerk of the course Simon Claisse said: "Sadly Warthog suffered what was found to be a fractured foreleg after jumping the first fence.

"He was brought back to the racecourse stables for assessment and x-rays which revealed the full extent of the injury and sadly he had to be put down."

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