OWNER Graham Wylie paid a heartfelt tribute to Inglis Drever after the three-time World Hurdle hero died yesterday.

The Howard Johnsontrained ten-year-old, who retired from racing in January, had to be put down after suffering colic.

‘‘It’s a sad day, but I walked round the house this morning and there are pictures everywhere and trophies, so I have some fantastic memories,’’ Wylie said.

‘‘It is very difficult to pick out one day, but I suppose my greatest memory is of him winning his third World Hurdle as that day he was making history.

‘‘He was the first horse that ever went to Cheltenham to run for me, he was the first horse that won at Aintree for me and has just been a fantastic horse to be involved with.

‘‘He was a difficult horse to run against as he could be up at the front or at the back of the field and he just had that turn of foot that nobody could live with.

‘‘He just loved coming down that Cheltenham hill second time around and you could just think it wasn’t going to be his day and before you knew it, he was jumping the last hurdle in the lead.

‘‘He was such a tough, tough horse and I don’t think we’ll ever find another one like him, but we’ll try our best.’’ Johnson said: ‘‘Without a doubt he’d be number one when it comes to horses I’ve trained.

‘‘He went to Graham’s for a good retirement – it is just one of those things.’’ Inglis Drever began his career on the Flat for Sir Mark Prescott, for whom he won four races.

‘‘Mr Johnson kindly faxed me this morning. It’s very sad,’’ said the Newmarket trainer.

‘‘They transformed him from a useful horse into a legend at White Lea Farm stables.

I can imagine how very upset they will be, but they gave him a wonderful career.

‘‘He deserved a long and happy retirement, but like lots of people who’ve done well and worked hard they don’t always get that.’’ Inglis Drever was transferred to Johnson’s Crook yard in 2003, when he made a winning debut for his new team in November.

Although the star hurdler will be best remembered for his exploits at Cheltenham, he also won the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury three times (2005-07) – in addition to big-race triumphs at Sandown, Warwick, Wincanton, Haydock and Wetherby.

Johnson said: ‘‘He’s been a fantastic servant to me and the yard and has kept me going since we bought him.

‘‘He won three World Hurdles and was the first horse to win the Order of Merit.

‘‘You could always tell when he was right and he was a peach to train. You always knew he would come up hills because as soon as he saw our hills at home he used to fly.”