Cheltenham Festival winner Facile Vega dies aged seven as Willie Mullins in mourning | Racing | Sport

Four-time Grade 1 winner Facile Vega has passed away, aged just seven.

The Cheltenham Festival winner’s passing has left the world of racing in shock and is sure to leave a big hole in the heart of Willie Mullins’ yard.

Facile Vega was last seen finishing seventh of 11 in the Turners Novices’ Chase earlier this year, being sent off 5/2 joint-favourite, which was ultimately won by Dan Skelton’s Grey Dawning.

He passed away after fracturing a bone in his pelvis to send shockwaves through Closutton.

Announcing the passing of his stable star, champion trainer Mullins said: “Facile Vega kicked a wall with both hind legs. He ended up fracturing a bone high up in his pelvis and, unfortunately, there was no coming back from it.

On his day, he could do things other horses couldn’t and we just never got his full potential out of him, which was a pity. That’s why I had him back in early to go into training. He wasn’t in full training yet, he was just in pre-training. You think you’re doing the right thing but you just never know, do you.”

Facile Vega burst onto the National Hunt scene in sensational style when easily winning two bumpers at Leopardstown before bolting up in the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham, proving a very popular winner among punters after being backed into 15/8 favourite.

He then returned to the coveted meeting in 2023 to compete for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle crown but fell short of replicating that success, finishing three-and-a-quarter lengths behind Marine Nationale.

Facile Vega’s impressive CV also included the Punchestown Christmas Bumper, the Christmas Grade 1 Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown and the KPMG Champion Novice Hurdle, with his final victory coming in the latter of the three big races.

The son of Quevega struggled in his final few outings, finishing the last of four in the Racing Post Novice Chase on Boxing Day before securing a third-placed finish in the Irish Arkle behind Found A Fifty and Il Etait Temps.

The step up to two-miles-and-three-furlongs as well as his knack of thriving on the big days still saw Facile Vega backed into one of the market leaders on the Thursday of the Cheltenham Festival but he failed to justify such support.

The defeat has not tarnished his reputation in any sense though and he will be fondly remembered by National Hunt fans for the sensational memories he provided with his immense cruising speed and willing attitude.