DEVASTATED trainer Fiona Needham has paid tribute to stable star Sine Nomine - following the Cheltenham Festival superstar's death aged nine.

The gorgeous grey dubbed the 'Pride of Yorkshire' was a brilliant winner of the Hunters' Chase at the 2024 meeting.

Sent off 8-1 under amateur jockey John Dawson, Sine Nomine ground down JP McManus' 11-8 fav Its On The Line and pinched the £25,000 first-place prize with just yards to go in a thrilling finish.

Sine Nomine had not been in the same form this season and was pulled up when running in the Kim Muir at last month's Festival.

She ran again two weeks later with a much more encouraging effort at Stratford.

But a 'horrible' condition took hold soon after - one that would sadly take her life.

Sine Nomine developed thrombosis, which developed into sepsis.

The vets did their utmost to treat her but tragically the condition proved fatal.

Needham told the : "They thought she wouldn’t make it through Saturday night, but she picked up again and was eating carrots before taking a turn for the worse on Sunday.

"She was a battler. I know she was a good horse, but she was such a character too.

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"We’re such a small yard and I rode her out every day and she was a bit spoiled. It’s horrible.

"She was so full of life. I don’t have any children – my horses are my children and she was my best friend."

Punters were quick to pay their own regards to a horse many loved and followed.

One wrote: "So awful to hear, absolutely loved her.

"Would back her almost every race after she won at Wetherby. Absolutely ran her socks off Cheltenham and what a great ride it was. Another brave horse gone."

While another posted on X: "Terrible news, was a lovely horse, thoughts with connections."

It has been a tough week for horse deaths.

While Broadway Boy has safely returned to his yard following his dramatic Grand National fall, the same could not be said for Celebre D'Allen.

Jockey Micheal Nolan was banned for his ride on the 13-year-old, who sadly lost his life two days after the race.