J P McManus' racing manager pays tribute to Carlingford Lough

Connections feel they have a lost a “star” in Carlingford Lough after the 12-year-old collapsed and died following the Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown.

The John Kiely-trained gelding is believed to have died of a heart attack when being pulled up on Thursday after the valuable extended three-mile handicap -which his owner J P McManus won with Auvergnat.

“He was a star for us,” said Frank Berry, racing manager to McManus.

“He turned up on a lot of big days. He loved Leopardstown, and it’s just sad to lose him, but he didn’t have any pain.

“He never let us down, and it’s very hard.

“John Kiely did a marvellous job with him over the years. Credit to John ,who looked after him very well.”

Carlingford Lough’s first big success came in the Galway Plate – which he won as as a maiden over fences in 2013. He went on to even greater triumphs in the Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown in 2015 and 2016, as well as taking Punchestown’s Champion Novice Chase in 2014 and their Gold Cup in 2016.

He won 10 of his 38 starts, and amassed £536,000 in prize money.