Night Nurse, one of the great racehorses of the late 70s and early 80s, has died at the age of 28.

The dual Champion hurdler, spending his retirement with former trainer Peter Easterby, was humanely destroyed after suffering a stoppage caused by colic. Night Nurse made his name chiefly as a hurdler, winning the Champion Hurdle twice but he began life as an average Flat performer. It was only when he was transferred to a National Hunt campaign that he became a household name.

In nine seasons Night Nurse won 32 of his 64 races over jumps, earning over £130,000 in winning prizemoney.