HENRIETTA Knight has paid a warm tribute to Edredon Bleu following the death of the star chaser at the age of 26.

Knight trained the Jim Lewis-owned gelding with her late husband Terry Biddlecombe at their West Lockinge stables, near Wantage, to win the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham in 2000 and the King George VI Chase at Kempton in 2003.

Following his retirement at 13, Edredon Bleu, who became hugely popular with his front-running style and lightning-quick jumping, spent the rest of his life with former jockey Graham Thorner at nearby Letcombe Regis.

Knight said: “It is sad, but it’s a tremendous age for any racehorse.

“He was always in very good health, but he got what are called sarcoids and they got very sore unfortunately.

“It was kinder to put him to sleep as they don’t heal when they get older.”

Reflecting on her

French-bred charge’s triumph in the two-mile championship at Cheltenham when he pipped Direct Route by a short head under an inspired Tony McCoy, Knight added: “I suppose that Champion Chase was unreal.

“AP McCoy was at his very best. He galvanised the horse and he responded. It was one of the most memorable rides he ever had.”

Edredon Bleu won 25 of his 57 starts, including the 2003 Clonmel Oil Chase, successive Haldon Gold Cups in 2002 and 2003 and the Peterborough Chase from 1998-2001.