THE 2009 William Hill Galway Plate winner Ballyholland was sadly put down on Tuesday at the Co Down home of his devoted owner, Cathal McGovern, with whom he had spent his days since retiring in the summer of 2012.

“He was some servant,” said trainer Colin McBratney of the Andrew Kavanagh-bred Tiraaz gelding who he and Cathal purchased as a four-year-old in 2005. “He had been failed for his wind at the August Sale at Goffs but we decided to take a chance with him.

“It was actually after his first point-to-point win (at Taylorstown in October 2007) that we got his wind done and he went on to win another point shortly after that.

“He won three chases before giving us that great day in 2009 when winning the Galway Plate. He later won a hurdle and was successful again over fences at Galway in August 2011. He also ran in the Grand National and the Topham Chase at Aintree so gave us other good days out as well. Unfortunately, old age caught up with him recently so the kindest thing to do was to put him to sleep.”