CHIPPING Norton trainer Charlie Longsdon has paid tribute to Bentelimar after his Aintree Festival hero suffered a fatal injury in a freak accident.

The nine-year-old gelding provided the highlight of last season for the trainer when landing the Grade 3 Red Rum Handicap Chase at the Grand National meeting under Jonathan Burke.

Hopes were high that Bentelimar, who only arrived at Hull Farm a year ago after previously being trained by Shay Barry in Ireland, could build on that success.

Longsdon said: “Forever the gentleman, he was extremely popular among the team. He will always be remembered at Hull Farm for being my first Aintree Festival winner.

“He was a horse we were massively excited about this season, having found a strong run two miles to be the key to him and were very much looking forward to him running in all the decent handicaps through the winter.

“He had been in great form since returning from his break and had looked fabulous when parading at our open afternoon.

“Unfortunately, Aintree will be his pinnacle and he will never be able to prove himself any further.”

Bentelimar, who was owned by the Swanee River Partnership, won seven of his 38 starts, earning £152,595 in prize-money.

Treackle Tart provided Longsdon with a timely tonic when putting in a fine round of jumping to get off the mark over fences at Worcester.

The six-year-old mare showed a good turn of foot to come home ten lengths clear of Arctic Gold in a two-mile-and-seven-furlong novices’ chase with Burke on board.