'Desperately sad' day when Hermes Allen, Alex Ferguson's horse, is fatally injured

SIR ALEX FERGUSON's star horse Hermes Allen sadly suffered a fatal injury at Sandown Park on Saturday.

The promising seven-year-old dropped out twice as he tried to chase eventual winner Nickle Back in the Scilly Isles Novice Chase.

The horse was immediately attended to by the attending team of veterinarians, but a short time later the sad news was confirmed that he had been put to sleep.

Fergie was not on course to watch the horse in the Grade 1 race, but his trainer Paul Nicholls was understandably devastated by the death of one of his star horses.

And so did jockey Harry Cobden, who had ridden the crest of the wave this week after a string of winners put him in contention to become a champion jockey.

Hermes Allen won four of his eight races during his career, giving the former Manchester United boss a huge victory in the 2022 Grade 1 Challow Hurdle.

And he seemed to have the world at his feet as a chaser who won a Grade 2 at Newbury before running a brilliant race to finish second behind French superstar Il Est Francais at Kempton over Christmas.

Race fans were absolutely heartbroken by the news, with one on X saying: “Absolutely devastated, rest in peace.”

Another added: “I hoped he would fight another day, so very sad.”

While another posted: “Desperately sad day with the loss of such a high profile horse in Hermes Allen. Thoughts with all its connections.”