Consul De Thaix has suffered a fatal fall in the first race on Wednesday at Cheltenham Festival.

The horse fell in the 1.30 on the second day of the showpiece event as 14/1 shot Willoughby Court romped to victory.

Consul De Thaix was running towards the back of the field in the Neptune Novices' Hurdle at the sixth-last fence of the race.

Jockey Mark Walsh will not ride again at the Festival following the fall.

Walsh was unseated and was fortunate not to avoid serious injury after being thrown forward in the incident.

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Trained by Nicky Henderson and owned by JP McManus, the five-year-old had placed three times in his four jump races prior to Cheltenham.

Jockey of winning horse Willoughby Court David Bass said: "My horse drifted right and drifted left again. It's brilliant for Ben and his team.

"I'm so grateful to him and his owners to ride a nice horse like this."

Favourite Neon Wolf finished second while Messire Des Obeaux finished third.