Gordon Elliott has confirmed that top novice chasing prospect Easywork has died after a heart attack on the gallops yesterday.
The Gigginstown-owned six-year-old was runner up to Envoi Allen in last season’s Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle and was expected to be among the favourites for the race formerly known as the RSA Chase at this season’s Cheltenham Festival.
“Unfortunately Easywork had a heart attack on the gallops yesterday,” Elliott told the Racing Post this morning. “It’s disappointing to lose him. He was an exciting horse and one we were looking forward to at Christmas but we’ve got to keep our heads up and keep going forward.”
Speculation had arisen after the 153-rated hurdler was absent from the entries on the opening two days of the Leopardstown Christmas festival.
Easywork started his campaign 12 months ago with a treble of wins and had two seconds at Grade 1 level at Leopardstown and then Cheltenham. He only seemed to be going best at Navan last month on his chase debut when jumping the last. Easywork was a 25/1 chance in the ante-post betting for the Arkle, Marsh, and RSA Chase over three miles.
