Whats that coming "up" the hill is it a monster?

Inglis Drever-sad news

3 times World Hurdle winner Inglis Drever was sadly Put to sleep this morning after suffering from a bad bout of Colic.

Recently retired from racing,he was found in a field at the owners stud..

Winning 17 and placed 11 times in a 35 race career he amassed £800k..

RIP

great horse and sad news

who can forget him coming up the straight at his beloved cheltenham

yes sad news a great horse

Cheltenham will feel a little colder next March following the death of Inglis Drever.

The three-time Ladbrokes World Hurdle winner, who retired from racing in January, was put down on Friday morning after suffering a fatal bout of colic.

A real Festival specialist, Howard Johnson's 10-year-old also finished runner-up to Fundamentalist in the 2004 Royal & SunAlliance Hurdle - in addition to his three victories in the staying hurdle championship.

The story started in September 2001 when he made his debut for Sir Mark Prescott, for whom he firstly appeared over six furlongs at Pontefract.

Not surprisingly, he did not show his true ability until he was upped in trip.

That said, he won four times on the Flat in handicap company and rounded off in that sphere by finishing 11th in the Cesarewitch of 2003.

It was later that month his career really took off when Howard Johnson, backed by multi-millionaire owner Graham Wylie, paid 110,000 guineas for him at Tattersalls Sales.

Having been at his new yard less than a month, Inglis Drever made a winning debut over timber at Aintree and looked a natural in the process.

The rest, as they say, is history.

In an unbelievable record over hurdles, in which he had 23 starts, 'The Drever' was only out of the first two on five occasions.

Three of those were at Aintree, one was when he fell at Chepstow, which kept him off the track for a year, and the other was his seasonal reappearance last November at Newbury which sadly was to be the last of his career.

It is hard to say what his highlight was.

Denying Baracouda a third victory in the World Hurdle, quite possibly his only serious rival to the honour of greatest staying hurdler of the modern era?

Proving his durability in 2007 when, after a year off and only two previous runs, he beat Blazing Bailey to win his second crown?

For most people, however, it must be that rainy day last March when it appeared the younger Kasbah Bliss was about to prevent a slice of history before that famous burst up the Cheltenham hill saw him home once more.

No matter, those who witnessed first hand this lion-hearted warrior will forever be grateful to Inglis Drever.

Owner Graham Wylie paid a heartfelt tribute to Inglis Drever after the three-time World Hurdle hero died on Friday morning.

The Howard Johnson-trained 10-year-old, who retired from racing in January, had to be put down after suffering a fatal bout of colic.

"It's a sad day, but I walked round the house this morning and there are pictures everywhere and trophies, so I have some fantastic memories," Wylie said.

"It is very difficult to pick out one day, but I suppose my greatest memory is of him winning his third World Hurdle as that day he was making history.

"He was the first horse that ever went to Cheltenham to run for me, he was the first horse that won at Aintree for me and has just been a fantastic horse to be involved with.

"He was a difficult horse to run against as he could be up at the front or at the back of the field and he just had that turn of foot that nobody could live with.

"He just loved coming down that Cheltenham hill second time around and you could just think it wasn't going to be his day and before you knew it, he was jumping the last hurdle in the lead.

"He was such a tough, tough horse and I don't think we'll ever find another one like him, but we'll try our best."

Johnson said: "Without a doubt he'd be number one when it comes to horses I've trained.

"He went to Graham's for a good retirement - it is just one of those things."

Inglis Drever began his career on the Flat for Sir Mark Prescott, for whom he won four races.

"Mr Johnson kindly faxed me this morning. It's very sad," said the Newmarket trainer.

"They transformed him from a useful horse into a legend at White Lea Farm stables. I can imagine how very upset they will be, but they gave him a wonderful career.

"He deserved a long and happy retirement, but like lots of people who've done well and worked hard they don't always get lucky enough."

Inglis Drever was transferred to Johnson's yard in 2003, when he made a winning debut for his new team in November.

Although the star hurdler will be best remembered for his exploits at Cheltenham, he also won the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury three times (2005-07) - in addition to big-race triumphs at Sandown, Warwick, Wincanton, Haydock and Wetherby.

Johnson said: "He's been a fantastic servant to me and the yard and has kept me going since we bought him off Sir Mark.

"He won three World Hurdles and was the first horse to win the Order of Merit.

"You could always tell when he was right and he was a peach to train.

"He wouldn't hurt a butterfly and you always knew he would come up hills because as soon as he saw our hills at home he used to fly.

"It's very upsetting and I've said to Mr Wylie that we'll get him cremated and get him back into what I call the 'Millionaire's Field' in front of our house.

"He used to love it in there, and spent his summers in there every year since he arrived, so I think we should bury his ashes in there."

Another endearing quality in the constitution of Inglis Drever was his tendency to hit a flat spot in his races - as evidenced by his World Hurdle victories in 2005 and 2007.

There was no sign of that trademark quirk at Prestbury Park last March, however, as he powered up the hill to record a no-nonsense verdict over Kasbah Bliss.

Defeat at Aintree - never his happiest hunting ground - followed last April, after which he was sent to Newbury for his seasonal debut.

But Denis O'Regan's mount suffered a hock injury and was pulled up after four out.

Although there were hopes he had made a full recovery, Johnson realised the game was up in January.

O'Regan was understandably stunned by the news.

The jockey was in the saddle when the horse won his third Ladbrokes World Hurdle and described him as the best horse he will ever ride.

"It's shocking news. I won the World Hurdle on him and the Long Distance Hurdle as well," he said.

"He was a lovely horse and it's a shame.

"He was a top-class hurdler and it's a shame he's died so young, but he's a horse that will stick in the memory for a long time.

"He's the best horse I've ridden and will probably be the best horse I'll ever ride.

"He's brought my career to the fore and it's a sad ending to a great career for that horse."

Graham Lee's association with the horse lasted from November 2003 to December 2005.

Their seven victories included a first World Hurdle in 2005 when the pair dethroned the French champion Baracouda.

Lee said: "When you are a jockey you want to have big rides in big races and he was a very, very good horse.

"It was a privilege to ride him."

JOHNSON is facing a potentially lengthy ban from racing after the BHA charged him with running a horse that hadbeen "de-nerved" and also administering anabolic steroids to three horses in his care.