TRAINER Peter Fahey and his team have been devastated by the news that popular staying chaser The Big Dog has died of colic at the age of 10.

The pride and joy of brothers Damien and Colin Kelly from Lusmagh, Co Offaly, he enjoyed a cracking campaign last season when rattling off back-to-back wins in the Munster National and Troytown Handicap Chase, culminating in an excellent fifth in the Grand National at Aintree when conceding a stone to Corach Rambler.

The Mahler gelding was handled tremendously by Fahey and earned close to €275,000 in prize money during his career, having cost just €20,000 as a store. He had a particularly strong local following around Co Offaly but was also a yard favourite at his Monasterevin base.

“He was an unbelievable horse for us as a family, but even more so for the Kellys,” Fahey told The Irish Field.

“He was a very lucky horse for the lads and gave them some huge days, bringing them to so many big places and never seeming to run a bad race. I have to say, he was a horse that caught the imagination of everyone in the yard and anyone who had anything to do with him. Even his name seemed to catch people’s eyes.

'Fairytale' season

“We had a brilliant season with him last year. For us, it was fairytale stuff to win two proper handicap chases and then run a cracker in the Grand National.

“It’s desperate that this has happened, we would have loved to have him out in the field retired for the rest of his life after his racing career but unfortunately he died of colic. The Kellys have been absolutely fantastic people to deal with throughout our time with this horse and I know how much they loved him. The whole family loved him.”

The Big Dog was relatively lightly raced for his age, experiencing several spells on the sidelines that connections felt ultimately helped him mature into a quality stayer later in his career.

His first major victory came in the 2021 Punchestown Grand National Trial Handicap Chase, though his breakthrough win in a Naas bumper under Katie Walsh back in January 2018 was particularly special for his owners.

Cherished success

The Kelly brothers’ father John, battling a brain tumour at the time, came to the meeting in a wheelchair but was lifted to his feet by the gutsy performance. He was so energised by the occasion that he led The Big Dog into the winner’s enclosure in an emotional success.

Fahey said: “The day that The Big Dog won at Naas is one I’ll never forget. I knew how much it meant to the lads. When their dad wasn’t well, getting him to come racing and seeing the horse win was just amazing. It goes to show what horses can do for people.

“He was a lightly raced horse and he showed his consistency last season, taking his races very well throughout the year. He built up a huge following. The Kellys and everyone in the yard are devastated but he's given us some brilliant memories.”

Rated 160 at his peak, The Big Dog also finished a third in last season’s Welsh National and was disputing for the lead in the 2023 Irish Gold Cup, won by Galopin Des Champs, when falling two fences from home.