ESPOIR D’Allen, winner of this year’s Unibet Champion Hurdle, has been put down following an accident at Gavin Cromwell’s stables earlier this month.

The five-year-old took a fall when returning to the yard in Co Meath from the gallops and was being treated in Fethard Equine Hospital.

In a statement on Friday, Cromwell said: “It is with great sadness that we have to announce that Espoir D’Allen had to be put down earlier today.

“Following a freak accident two weeks ago, he was relocated to Fethard Equine Hospital.

“John Halley and his veterinary team deemed that it was inhumane to persist with treatment and, on their advice, we made the tough decision.”

Frank Berry, racing manager to owner JP McManus, said: “He was only five and he’d had two fantastic season. It’s very tough for Gavin and everyone concerned with the horse.”

Great days

Espoir D’Allen first emerged as a classy juvenile hurdler, winning four times, including the Grade 2 Knight Frank Juvenile Hurdle.

He won all four of his starts as a senior hurdler last season and gave Cromwell by far his biggest moment as a trainer when scoring a huge 15-length win in last year’s red hot renewal of the Champion Hurdle, when he was ridden by Mark Walsh.