Superstar chaser Cyrname dead aged 11 as devastated punters remember heroic horse who ended Altior’s record streak
PUNTERS have been left devastated following the death of superstar chaser Cyrname.
The Paul Nicholls-trained winning machine was a Grade 1 champion at his peak and was famed for ending Altior’s world-record 19-race winning streak.
In a titanic duel at Ascot in November 2019, the Johnny de la Hey-owned gelding saw off Nicky Henderson’s stable star by two lengths to end a run that dominated racing.
A tweet from At The Races confirmed Cyrname, who was last seen being pulled up at Wetherby in October 2021, had died this morning.
One punter said: “Wow that is so heartbreaking. Sincere condelences to all.”
Another wrote: “Will never forget him beating the mighty Altior’s streak. Thoughts are with his connections.”
While a fellow fan left a message saying: “Tragic news. Thoughts are with connections.”
Cyrname won eight of his 23 races and amassed earnings of more than £350,000.
During a golden spell in the winter of 2019 he won the bet365 Handicap Chase at Ascot by 21 lengths at 4-1 under Harry Cobden in January.
He then waltzed to a 17-length win in the Grade 1 Betfair Ascot Chase the following month.
Cyrname had wind surgery during a 280-day break from the track following that and returned to beat Altior in a thriller, seeing his rating rise to 177.
It wasn’t to be upped to three miles when he finished a distant second to Clan Des Obeaux in the King George that year.
And he fell when beaten defending his Betfair Chase crown in February 2020.
A further 259 days off the track saw him return to win the Charlie Hall on Halloween of that year but he raced only twice more, being pulled up both times.