Races
LIL ROCKERFELLER: Former Cheltenham winner dies aged 10
Cheltenham victor Lil Rockerfeller sadly passed away earlier this week
Stayers’ Hurdle runner-up Lil Rockerfeller sadly passed away at the age of 10 on Tuesday afternoon after suffering a heart attack at Auteuil.
The tough and likeable son of Hard Spun was a versatile sort, winning over fences at Prestbury Park to add to his multiple Graded timber wins, and also had a Glorious Goodwood success on his curriculum vitae.
His last appearance was in France when finishing second on his one and only run for Andrew Hollinshead.
In the aftermath, Hollinshead told the Racing Post: “It was terribly sad for everyone involved. I’d only had him for a month and only had him because Tom George’s temporary licence in France came to an end, but in that month we’d become attached to him.
“I know how much he meant to Neil [King] and all I wanted to do was get through yesterday and hand him back to him, so it was gutting.
“It was horrible because he was a complete warrior of a horse. He had a heart attack pulling up, James [Reveley] gave him a super ride and looked after him all the way around and he was upset afterwards as well, having been in and schooled him in the mornings.
“He was lazy in the mornings and not particularly motivated at home, but yesterday in the paddock you could see him grow and prick his ears. He came alive for the job in hand and the owners tell me he always gave everything in a race.”
