Act Of Kalanisi, Zara Phillips' first runner under Rules in seven years, was put down
Friday 6 February 2015 20:01, UK
Act Of Kalanisi, Zara Phillips' first runner under Rules in seven years, was put down having sustained an injury at Bangor as Teaforthree, third in the 2013 Grand National, showed his class when making a successful hunter chase debut.
Formerly trained by Dr Richard Newland, the nine-year-old Act Of Kalanisi was a nine-time winner during his career, including in a valuable handicap hurdle at Ascot in February 2011.
Having his first start in a hunter chase, he never gave the Queen's granddaughter any hope of a fairytale success, always at the rear of the field before being pulled up and dismounted by Tom David after the seventh fence.
He was immediately assessed by the on-course veterinary team, and David said on Friday evening: "I'm afraid we lost him, we had to put him down. He did his pelvis and was haemorrhaging and it was the best thing for the horse.
"We bought him in the summer, around July time. You have to take the bad with the good in racing, but it's not very nice."
In contrast, Teaforthree (2/1 favourite) was enjoying a confidence-boosting victory in the Bet On Your Mobile At Corbettsports Open Hunters' Chase ahead of another crack at the Aintree spectacular in April.
He is also a possible for the Foxhunter Chase at Cheltenham but has to finish in the first two in one more hunter chase before the end of the month to qualify.
On his first start since last year's National, where he unseated his rider, experienced amateur Jamie Codd had the Rebecca Curtis-trained Teaforthree close to the pace set by Neverownup before going on after the fourth-last fence.
Pacha Du Polder, from the Paul Nicholls stable, was the only serious challenger but Teaforthree kept on strongly to win by two and three-quarter lengths. Sustainability was 11 lengths away in third.
Teaforthree was cut by Sky Bet from 5/1 to 3/1 for the Foxhunter Chase on the back of this victory.
Curtis was delighted with her stable stalwart and is now keen to get him qualified for Cheltenham.
She said: "That was a nice performance and it was great to see him back. We will try to get another run into him in the next 10 days or so and get him qualified for the Foxhunter at Cheltenham.
"After that hopefully it will be the National again."
Part-owner Nigel Roddis tweeted: "I confess there may have been a tear shed. From the vets yard at Aintree to today has been a tricky road. Great to see Teaforthree back."
