Whatcombe trainer Paul Cole has paid tribute to stable star River Proud after he collapsed and died at Longchamp on Saturday.

Oliver Peslier had cut out much of the running on the classy three-year-old in the Group 3 Prix du Prince d’Orange.

However, he was struggling in the straight and tragically collapsed in front of the stands halfway up the run-in and died.

The race was won by Never On Sunday for Jean-Claude Rouget, with Russian Cross second.

Cole reported that the vet told him River Proud's aortic valve burst.

He said it was a horrific experience, describing the son of Proud Citzen as a friend and a gentleman.

"River Proud was our best horse never to reach his full potential," he added.

The colt won three of his ten starts, with total prize money of £89,311.

An impressive winner on his debut at Newbury last season, River Proud went on to finish second to Winker Watson in the Group 2 July Stakes at Newmarket, before winning the Group 3 Somerville Tattersall Stakes back at headquarters in October.

This season, he was a fast-finishing third in the Poule d'Essai des Poulains (French 2000 Guineas) at Longchamp after encountering problems with the stalls.

He was then supplemented for the Vodafone Derby at a cost of £75,000 only to go lame on the eve of the race.

Following a two-month break, River Proud took the Listed Blue Square Premier Stakes at Glorious Goodwood in good style, and then finished a creditable second to Russian Cross in the Group 2 Prix Guillaume d'Ornano at Deauville.

Cole enjoyed better fortune with Via Mia and Sri Kandi, who opened their accounts in juvenile maiden fillies' races at Wolverhampton and Beverley respectively.

Youmzain, West Ilsley trainer Mick Channon's standard bearer, is to have a new jockey in Richard Hills when he lines up in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp on Sunday week.

The five-year-old, runner-up to Dylan Thomas in Europe's most prestigious all-aged race last year, has been partnered by Richard Hughes in 11 of his last 13 outings.

But owner Jaber Abdullah decided his charge could benefit from a change of rider.

Channon, who continues to make progress following his recent car accident, enjoyed an across-the-card double with Kiribati King and Grit at Pontefract and Ayr respectively.

Kiribati King was completing a hat-trick when staying on dourly in the hands of Tony Culhane to land a handicap over two miles and a furlong.

And Grit showed plenty of resolution to take a mile handicap in heavy ground at the Scottish track under Paul Mulrennan.

Wantage trainer Henry Candy was also among the winners at Pontefract when Effigy followed up his recent Salisbury win with victory in a mile handicap.

Dane O'Neill powered the four-year-old home by a length and a half from Ours.