Grand National legend Bobbyjo dies

Bobbyjo, the hero of the 1999 Martell Grand National, has died after further complications set in to an injury from which he …

Bobbyjo, the hero of the 1999 Martell Grand National, has died after further complications set in to an injury from which he was recovering.

The horse will be buried in County Galway, in the home town of his owner, London publican Bobby Burke.

He was at a veterinary hospital at the Curragh, recovering from an operation on a shattered carpal bone behind his near-fore when he aggravated the injury and was put to sleep yesterday afternoon.

The 11-year-old picked up the injury in the Grand National Trial Handicap Chase at Fairyhouse in February and the decision was made retire the gelding on veterinary advice.

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Bobbyjo became the first Irish-trained winner of the National since L'Escargot in 1975 when scoring at Aintree for father and son team Tommy and Paul Carberry.

He also won the 1998 Irish Grand National, beating Papillon.