CAUSE OF CAUSES: Festival Hat-Trick hero dies aged 13

Racing endured one of its toughest days on Monday when it was confirmed that former Cheltenham Festival winner Cause Of Causes had passed away.

After the tragic morning news that amateur jockey Lorna Brooke died in hospital, another beloved and recognisable National Hunt figure was confirmed to have departed – this time in equine form.

Both pieces of news come just a week after dual Festival winner Presenting Percy lost his life.

Trained by Gordon Elliot and retired in 2018, the Dynaformer gelding was a three-time successor at Prestbury Park, taking the Cross Country Chase, Kim Muir and National Hunt Chase between 2015 and 2017, all under Jamie Codd.

He also finished second in the Grand National under the same pilot behind One For Arthur four years ago, and accumulated just short of £560,000 in prize money.

Jamie Codd told the Racing Post: “Cause Of Causes was an incredibly tough horse for his size and he had a tremendous attitude. He was a real character and he took us to all the big festivals.

“He was a horse of a lifetime and was a huge horse for my career. He leaves us with fantastic memories me and my family will cherish forever.”

Frank Berry, JP McManus’s racing manager, added: “We had some great days with Cause Of Causes. He was as game as they come and to win three times at the Cheltenham Festival was a huge achievement.

“The day he won the Kim Muir was amazing because he came from a long way back but still managed to get up and win snug in the end.

“He also ran very well to finish second in the 2017 Grand National. We were very lucky to come across one like him and he will be missed.”