Brindisi Breeze ( RIP )

Cheltenham Festival winner Brindisi Breeze has died following a freak accident.

The six-year-old gelding was killed after jumping out of his paddock during the night at Scottish trainer Lucinda Russell's stables and reportedly being struck by a tanker.

Brindisi Breeze gave Russell and jockey Campbell Gillies their first success at jumps racing's premier meeting in the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle in March and looked to have a bright future.

The trainer said in a statement posted on www.lucindarussell.com: "Brindisi Breeze was tragically killed last night. At 2.30am he jumped out of his paddock and was hit by a tanker. He died instantly.

"Brindisi Breeze was Scotland's first Cheltenham Festival winner for 10 years when winning the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle decisively last March.

"He will be sorely missed by the whole yard and especially his sporting owner Sandy Seymour, who adored his horse.

"To go from the pride of standing at Cheltenham watching Brindisi and Campbell stride up the hill to victory to the devastation of today's bizarre incident leaves me deeply saddened.

"With the love and the care that is given to these wonderful athletes, to lose any of them is difficult, but when it is a horse who has achieved so much in his short life it is deeply upsetting. It will be hard to overcome.

"Here at Arlary we have a strong team of owners, horses and staff who have all been affected by Brindisi's greatness and his loss.

"Each one of us have special memories of him, and we will never forget his kind, honest nature and his untapped talent."

RIP Thoughts go out to all connected.

WQW, i know i'm late but it's a shocker. looked a good chaser in the making.

Shocking news re Campbell, may you both rest in peace together.