Star Chaser Defi Du Seuil Retired Age Nine

The racing world on Wednesday was shocked to hear that the Phillip Hobbs trained and JP McManus owned superstar Defi Du Seuil has been retired at just the age of nine.

The gelding has been a favourite of many racing fans over the years in the sport, being bought by Mr McManus and moving over from France to race in England for Philip Hobbs.

Being a six time winner at Cheltenham and twice at the festival when landing the Grade One Triumph Hurdle and Grade One JLT Novices' Chase, he was always a horse on a going day that could beat anyone.

He also had some great days away from Prestbury Park when landing races like the Grade One Tingle Creek, Grade One Scilly Isles Novices' Chase and Grade One Clarence House Chase.

Overall Defi Du Seuil had a career that any racehorse would be proud of racing 25 times, winning 14 times including six times over fences and eight times over hurdles, accumulating in £627,611 in prize money.

His trainer Philip Hobbs told the Racing Post: "He's been phenomenal, winning seven Grade 1s. We've never had a horse who's achieved that before. And he was a really lovely character in the yard in every way."

"It's just that his form has petered away and it's not good seeing a horse like him running miles below par."

Also adding his memories of the horse was his usual partner in the saddle Barry Geraghty and he said: "As a juvenile I really looked forward to when he went chasing.

"He disappointed early on novice chasing when he was probably too extravagant with his jumping in his first couple of runs. But when the penny dropped, he was brilliant.

"His win in the JLT, he was dynamite that day, he jumped brilliant. I remember he popped the second-last and I could see from miles out he was on a mad long stride."

Geraghty added: "Although he wasn't the biggest horse in the world, he just had so much scope and you could just fire him from where you wanted.

"He stood off and attacked the last, flew it and got up to beat Lostintranslation."