Ballyward was fatally injured during the concluding National Hunt Challenge Cup on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival.

A field of 18 runners went to post for the four-mile contest restricted to amateur riders, but just four finished.

Ballyward was the 9/4 favourite to provide trainer Willie Mullins with a third winner of the afternoon.

However, he fell at the 17th of 25 fences in the hands of the trainer’s son, Patrick, and had to be euthanised.

Ballyward was one of nine fallers in the race, while another five were pulled up.

A statement from Cheltenham read: “Sadly Ballyward sustained an injury in the National Hunt Chase.

“He was immediately attended to by our vet team, who very sadly determined that it was necessary to euthanize him on welfare grounds.

“As animal lovers, we hate to lose any horse and of course we shall review this incident. Our thoughts are with the Ballyward’s connections.”

HEFTY BANS

After a series of inquiries, there were bans for several Irish amateurs with three jockeys being hit with 37 days of bans.

All three jockeys were banned after the stewards deemed that they had continued in the race when it appeared contrary to their horse’s welfare.

Rob James, who rode Just Your Type, was suspended for seven days for using his whip when his horse was showing no response from approaching the home bend.

James was then banned for 12 days after the stewards deemed that he had continued in the race when it appeared to be contrary to the horse’s welfare.

Noel McParlan, who rode Mulcahys Hill (a faller at the second last fence), was given an eight-day ban after the stewards enquired as to whether he had continued in the race when it appeared to be contrary to the horse’s welfare.

Declan Lavery was another casualty and after partnering Jerrysback into third the rider was suspended for 10 days for continuing in the race when it appeared to be contrary to the horse’s welfare after tired jumping errors at the final two fences.

Damien Skehan rider of Clondaw Cian also faces a ban but had left the course before the inquiry.

Finian Maguire was taken to Southmead Hospital in Bristol for further checks but was reported conscious.

Maguire, who is the son of former Gold Cup-winning rider Adrian Maguire, parted company with the Jessica Harrington-trained Whisperinthebreeze at the 14th fence.