Bannow Bay Destroyed After Illness Bannow Bay, Christy Roche's top staying hurdler, has been put down following an illness acquired while recovering from a routine operation.The eight-year-old had the operation last week for a chip on his near-fore knee but wasn't well when he returned to Roche's yard and was destroyed on Saturday.Bannow Bay will be best remembered for his battle with Baracouda in last year`s Bonusprint Stayers` Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival where the French ace just got the better of Roche`s charge by a neck.Bannow Bay was again a leading fancy for this season`s stayers` crown until ruled out of the race through injury and the plan was for him to go chasing next term.Regular partner Charlie Swan said Bannow Bay was one of the best stayers he had ridden.He said: 'It`s terrible news. He was a great horse. We were unlucky not to win the Stayers` last year and he would have had a big chance this time.'He was a tough horse and it`s very sad. He was a kind old horse to ride.'Bannow Bay raced 19 times over jumps, winning nine times and over #160,000 in prizemoney.
