Racing fans are paying tribute to Gold Cup hero Bobs Worth, who has died aged 17.
The 2013 winner of the Cheltenham Festival feature had a 'freak accident' in a field on Thursday morning.
He was retired to Hillwood Stud, where he was part of the family and enjoyed going on hacks after his glory days in the sport.
As well as his seven length win in the main Cheltenham race nine years ago, he won at the meeting on two other occasions.
His overall earnings of nearly £700,000 for connections include the first prize pots for the 2011 Albert Bartlett and 2012 RSA Chase.
A post from Hillwood Stud's Twitter account said: "It is with great sadness that we have to announce that Bobs Worth has suffered a freak accident in the field and has passed away.
"He was more than a horse to us, part of the family and will leave a huge void in our lives.
"RIP our friend and thank you for the amazing memories."
Bobs Worth took half of his 22 starts under Rules – and his tough nature won him dozens of fans.
Trainer Nicky Henderson told the Racing Post: "You could set your watch by him. He got out of bed, got on with his job and rarely missed a day or had a problem.
"He wouldn't tell you he was as good as he was – unless he was hiding it from me – and he wasn't naturally brilliant, but he just tried ten times harder than any other horse."
Jockey Barry Geraghty, who enjoyed the big days with him at Cheltenham, sold him to Henderson for just £20,000 in 2009.
For winning the Gold Cup, Bobs Worth scooped his team £313,225 alone.
Geraghty tweeted: "It is so sad to hear Bobs Worth passed away this morning.
"He was loved and adored by anyone who was ever involved with him since we had him as a youngster to his time @sevenbarrows and in his retirement with Charlie & @wickhamwicks and their boys.
"He was a real star."
Punters and racing supporters recalled their favourite memories of the veteran, who was retired after Cheltenham in 2016.
He had a particular fondness for the track and competed there nine times in the colours of The Not Afraid Partnership.
One person wrote: "Possibly the toughest national hunt horse of this century and my personal favourite. A sad day."
Another added: "Oh no that’s so sad. I saw him win the novice hurdle at the Festival and then the Hennessy, my sincere condolences on your tragic loss."
A third fan tweeted: "Rest easy Bob. 3 time Festival winner who never quite got the credit he so obviously deserved. Tough as teak."
