‘We had some fantastic days’: former top racehorse dies in retirement, aged 11

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Cyrname
Cyrname was once the highest-rated chaser in Britain.
(Image credit: Alamy)

Grade One-winning National Hunt racehorse Cyrname has died, aged 11, during a routine canter in retirement.

The gelding, who was owned by Samantha de la Hey and trained by Paul Nicholls, won eight of his 23 starts, clocking £360,604 in prize money. His biggest victories came in the Ascot Chase and Christy 1965 Chase, both at Ascot in 2019, and the 2020 Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby in 2020.

Gemma Redrup
Gemma Redrup
Former web features editor, point-to-point editor and digital racing editor

Gemma is an experienced journalist, who was a member of H&H staff from 2014 to September 2025. She is passionate about all equestrian sports, including racing and point-to-pointing. She has enjoyed riding out for top trainers Nicky Henderson and Charlie Appleby and took part in a charity Flat race at Epsom in August 2018. Gemma’s has reported from numerous five-star events around Britain and Europe, as well as European championships.