Our great old character, Beckermet, pulled up sore at Musselburgh on Friday and was seen by our team of vets at Station House on Saturday morning. The xrays showed a joint injury from which he could not recover, not even to be retired to the paddock.

Since Becks came to us in 2010 I can honest say he has only been ridden at home a handful of times. He loved his turn out and lunging and I was quite happy I could get him very close to race fitness in the lunge ring and a spin at Southwell after racing would put him right for his first run of the year. Becks was a real character – a bit like a grumpy old man but all at Mowbray House loved him and will miss him.