Autopsies on three horses killed in Cheltenham last Sunday have confirmed that none of the tragedies were linked.
Abuffalosoldier and Bangers, Cash Holland Cooper fell during the handicap chase and Napper Tandy Greatwood suffered serious injuries after falling in the handicap hurdle.
The notoriety of the incident brought the sport of horse racing to the fore.
The British Equestrian Authority, which has spent £56 million improving the health of horses, immediately launched an investigation and found that heart problems – none of which could have been prevented – led to the deaths of Abufflosolider and Bangers And Cash.
In its report, the BHA said: “All three horses in this case were sent for post-mortem which confirmed that Bangers, Cathy and AbufaloSoldier all suffered a separate form of cardiovascular collapse, exercise-associated sudden death (EASD),” BHA said.
Napper Tandy suffered a broken cervical vertebra after the fall, but no other abnormalities were found.
“No causal relationship could be established and no fatal accident could have been predicted or prevented before the race.”
Meanwhile, Sam Twiston-Davies has been invited by his former boss Paul Nicholls to ride Bravemansgame in the 20th running of the Betfair Chase at Haydock on Saturday.
The horse’s odds for the Grade 1 event are 14/1 and Nicholls believes those odds are generous.
