As we head into the New Year, the story of the jumps season is well underway, with all roads leading to a thrilling conclusion at the Cheltenham Festival. As 2023 turns to 2024, racing fans have much to look forward to, but now also provides an ideal time to look back and remember those superstars who are no longer with us. Here we pick out seven famous names who will spend 2024 looking down on the tracks they once graced with such aplomb.
Baracouda
- Died – 9th February 2023, aged 28
- Major Wins – Long Walk Hurdle (2000, 2001, 2003, 2004) Distance Championship Hurdle (2001), Stayers’ Hurdle (2002, 2003)
Going in the famous Green and Gold of JP McManus, this François Doumen-trained stayer supreme was a star amongst stars during a golden era for the division. King of the stamina-laden performers in 2002 and 2003, he showed a particular affinity for Ascot’s Long Walk Hurdle during his career – standing tall as the most successful horse in the history of the race (as of 2022). Having enjoyed a long and happy retirement, Baracouda died at his JP McManus-owned Martinstown Stud home.
Cyrname
- Died – 22nd September 2023, aged 11
- Major Wins – Betfair Ascot Chase (2019)
“I’ve never seen a horse gallop the way he did, and I’ll probably never see another.” Those words came from the lips of Paul Nicholls when referring to star chaser Cyrname, who died during a routine canter at home just a year into his retirement. This son of Nickname didn’t always show his brilliance – as evidenced by a solitary Grade 1 success, which did scant justice to his talent. However, when he was good, he was awesome – as demonstrated when famously ending the unbeaten run of Altior in the 2019 edition of the 1965 Chase.
Dream Alliance
- Died – 21st April 2023, aged 22
- Major Wins – Welsh Grand National (2009)
Unlike others on this list, Dream Alliance may not have been a Grade 1 star. He is, however, the only one of our entries to have had a movie made in his honour – Dream Horse starring Toni Collette. Bred by a Welsh barmaid from a mare who cost just £350, owned by 23 residents of the town of Blackwood, and reared on an allotment, the horse narrowly avoided being euthanised following a sliced tendon in 2008, only to return a year later to win the £100,000 Welsh Grand National. Fairytale stuff! Taking to the track for the final time in 2012, Dream Alliance enjoyed 11 years of retirement before passing away at 22.
Kicking King
- Died – 21st March 2023, aged 25
- Major Wins – Irish Arkle (2004), John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase (2004), King George VI Chase (2004, 2005), Cheltenham Gold Cup (2005), Punchestown Gold Cup (2005)
The Taaffe family are no strangers to brilliant racehorses, with Pat Taaffe partnering the mighty Arkle to Cheltenham Gold Cup glory on three occasions during the 1960s. 40 years on, son Tom returned to the scene of his father’s success when training this wonderful staying chaser to claim the biggest prize at the March Festival. Kicking King may not have been so talented as Arkle – few, if any, chasers are – but he was electric on that 2005 afternoon. Boasting a hugely impressive CV, including two King George VI Chases, he must rate amongst the greats of the modern era and well deserving of his long and happy retirement.
Mighty Potter
- Died – 9th April 2023, aged 6
- Major Wins – Future Champions Novice Hurdle (2021), Punchestown Champion Novice Hurdle (2022), Drinmore Novice Chase (2022), Ladbrokes Novices’ Chase (2023)
The sight of any horse losing their life at the track is devastating for all concerned. The fact that Gordon Elliott’s Mighty Potter was so supremely talented didn’t make his loss any more or less keenly felt by connections but did leave a lingering question of what might have been. A three-time Grade 1 winner over hurdles, the six-year-old was well on his way to the summit of the Novice Chase division before suffering a fatal fall at Fairyhouse to cast a shadow over an otherwise spectacular Spring.
One For Arthur
- Died – 24th March 2023, aged 14
- Major Wins – Grand National (2017), Classic Chase (2017)
If there is one race which guarantees a prominent position in the history books, it is undoubtedly the unique jumping and staying challenge presented by the Aintree Grand National. In 2023, Corach Rambler gave Lucinda Russell, Derek Fox, and Scotland a reason to celebrate when landing the big one. However, that victory was tinged with sadness, as a mere three weeks earlier, the yard’s 2017 Grand National hero One For Arthur had succumbed to colic at the age of 14.
Sire De Grugy
- Died – 23rd August 2023, aged 17
- Major Wins – Tingle Creek Chase (2013, 2015) Clarence House Chadee (2014), Queen Mother Champion Chase (2014), Celebration Chase (2013, 2014)
Trained by Gary Moore and ridden exclusively by either Jamie Moore or Joshua Moore across his 42-race career, few, if any, horses meant so much to the famous racing family as this outstanding 2m chaser. Those 42 starts yielded 17 victories, including five in Grade 1 company and almost £900,000 in total prize money. As tough as he was talented, his crowning moment came towards the end of a brilliant 2013/14 campaign, as he stamped his class all over a quality edition of the Queen Mother Champion Chase. Retiring in 2017, Sire De Grugy remained a much-loved part of the family at the West Sussex yard of the Moores until the end.