Willie Mullins suffers double tragedy as two horses belonging to same owner sadly die just days apart
WILLIE MULLINS has suffered double heartbreak with two horses belonging to same owner dying just days apart.
Word spread on Thursday morning that Supreme third Diverge had sadly passed.
Mullins confirmed the news to the Racing Post – with the death coming after Tenzing suffered a fatal injury in the Irish Grand National on April 10.
Diverge was most recently seen when finishing last to Facile Vega at Punchestown’s Champion Novice Hurdle on April 25.
Owned by Chris Jones, he was a very promising third to Marine Nationale at 25-1 in March’s Cheltenham Festival.
But Mullins said a ‘freak injury’ picked up in that race could not be treated.
He said: “Diverge overreached badly at Punchestown and did a lot of damage to his tendon.
“We sent him to a veterinary hospital but, unfortunately, he was unable to be saved as a riding horse or as a pet.
“It was just one of those freak injuries.
“He was in the process of running very well at Punchestown and had a very bright future ahead.”
Jones was listed as the new owner of the horse in December last year.
The five-year-old gelding’s sole win for Jones came in a maiden hurdle at Punchestown in January.
His third in the Supreme represented his biggest win financially with it being worth £14,323.50.
Tenzing was a 20-1 shot for the Irish National when ridden by Sean O’Keeffe.
He was sadly pulled up before two out having suffered a fatal injury.