Grade 1 winner Disko suffers fatal injury in Savills Chase

Dual Grade 1 winner Disko, owned by Gigginstown House Stud and trained by Noel Meade, suffered a fatal injury when falling at the last fence in the Savills Chase at Leopardstown on Friday.

While the trouble encountered by third home Road To Respect during the race was unfortunate for Gigginstown and Meade, the combination suffered a much bigger blow in the death of six-time winner Disko, who at seven still had plenty to give after just 13 career starts.

"It's very sad," said Meade. "He was a very good horse but an unlucky one in terms of injuries. He damaged his back and had to be put down."

The race marked Disko's return to the track following a 419-day absence, after the grey recovered from a fractured skull and a cracked wither.

His six wins included four from eight starts over fences, with his top-flight victories both coming last year in the Flogas Novice Chase at Leopardstown and the Growise Champion Novice Chase at the Punchestown festival.

Victory in a Grade 2 chase at Down Royal in November 2017 turned out to be his final success.

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