The death of two-time Champion Chase winner Moscow Flyer has been announced.
The 22-year-old gelding passed away at the National Stud in Kildare, where he has resided since 2012.
https://twitter.com/IrishNatStud/status/789439067985444864
One of the most popular Irish horses of the last decade, Moscow Flyer won the Champion Chase at Cheltenham in 2003 and 2005, as well as back-to-back Tingle Creek Chases in 2003-04.
It was the 2004 win in Sandown that stood out for his former trainer Jessica Harrington, who posted a video of the race to Twitter after news of his death broke.
https://twitter.com/Jessica_Racing/status/789443903455887361
It is a rare horse that provokes such an outpouring of affection at the news of its death, but Moscow Flyer was an icon of the noughties, a decade when Irish winners at Cheltenham were not as common as they are today.
Thirteen Grade 1 victories (won mainly with Barry Geraghty up) puts Moscow Flyer among the greats of National Hunt racing.
https://twitter.com/abbeighx/status/789446116370767872
https://twitter.com/Jimbo_JumpsMan/status/789443661767606272
https://twitter.com/dopedhorse/status/789442778157682689
https://twitter.com/AnaglogsDaughtr/status/789442548444135424
https://twitter.com/josephfansite23/status/789441799274332160
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