Killultagh Vic retired from racing by Willie Mullins

Killultagh Vic, the horse who defied gravity to win a Grade 2 novice chase at Leopardstown in 2016, has been retired from racing by trainer Willie Mullins.

A multiple winner in bumpers, over hurdles and in chases, Killultagh Vic will always be remembered as the horse who won when he could not possibly do so.

That most unlikely success came in the Grade 2 Coral Novice Chase when he overjumped the last fence, pitching his body forwards and nearly sending Ruby Walsh out of the saddle, with commentators Dessie Scahill exclaiming: “Killultagh Vic was almost on the floor, he’ll never recover from that.”

Miraculously, not only did Walsh remain aboard Killultagh Vic, he re-energised the horse to pass his two rivals in the final few yards, to the astonishment of Scahill and everyone watching.

Killultagh Vic, who won the 3m Grade 1 novices’ hurdle at the 2015 Punchestown Festival, where his victims included future World Hurdle and King George VI Chase winner Thistlecrack, scored just once more after that amazing Leopardstown victory.

Mullins said: “He’s been with us for ages. He won a Grade 1 for us at Punchestown and there’s been plenty of great days. He won over hurdles and fences for us.

“People still talk about when he nearly fell at the last fence at Leopardstown but then came back to win. He’s been around a long time and we’ve got used to seeing him around the place. It’s a shame to see him go.”

Owned by Marie Armstrong, Boyce Anderson and Rose Boyd, Killultagh Vic won eight races from 27 starts and earned £181,743 in prize-money.