Description
Fondmort
Quality art print from an original painting by Lisa Miller
Size: 12 x 9 inches
Open Edition Giclee Print
Signed by the Artist
Watermark does not appear on actual print
Fondmort, a multiple winner and Cheltenham Festival hero for Nicky Henderson and Mick Fitzgerald, died in 2018 aged 22.
The son of Cyborg joined Henderson from France and struck up a fine partnership with Fitzgerald, the pair winning eight races together, victories that were often illuminated by some spectacular leaps.
Their most notable success came at the 2006 festival, when they combined to win the Ryanair Chase by a length and a quarter from Lacdoudal.
Fitzgerald said on Friday: “There are some horses when you’re a jockey that you just cannot wait to ride – Fondmort was one. You knew he would meet every fence right.
“Unfortunately they changed the conditions of the Topham too late for him. He ran in the Grand National once, but wouldn’t have got the trip in a horsebox. However, he’d have been nigh on unbeatable round that course over the Topham distance.”
He added: “Fondmort wasn’t the very best horse I rode, but he was definitely one of my favourites. He was so reliable.”
Henderson, who trained Fondmort for Bill and Tracy Brown throughout his career in Britain, said: “It’s very sad. He was a very special horse, a favourite at the yard and we had seriously good fun with him.
“He was a brilliant jumper and absolutely loved Cheltenham. One day they took nearly all the fences out, and he was still brilliant.