Racing: Danny is destroyed

DANNY CONNORS, who gave Jonjo O'Neill his biggest success as a jumps trainer in last year's Coral Golden Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, broke a leg at Kelso yesterday and was put down.

Owned by the Irish gambler J P McManus, for whom he won six of his 17 starts, the eight-year-old was tracking the leaders in a three-runner handicap chase when his off- hind leg snapped 10 strides after jumping the ninth fence.

His rider, Tony Dobbin, escaped unhurt as his mount crumpled in full view of the stands. O'Neill said: 'I feel very sad, but unfortunately it's just one of those things that happen in racing.

'It leaves a big hole in the yard because he was the best horse I've trained. Thankfully he didn't suffer for long because the vet was on hand very quickly. I feel particularly sorry for the horse's owner because 'JP' was so patient with Danny Connors, who missed a whole season when he first came over from Ireland.'