THERE was ‘absolute heartbreak’ at Chester as Hidden Law – the winner of the big race on the day – suffered a fatal injury just yards after the post.

The Charlie Appleby-trained runner had just surged over the line in the Group 3 Boodles Chester Vase – a key trial for the Epsom Derby.

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But he suffered a life-ending injury when being pulled up by William Buick.

Commentator Richard Hoiles said: “From poetry in motion to absolute heartbreak.

“Oh that’s absolutely horrible, that’s absolutely heartbreaking for all concerned.

“Hidden Law has broken down badly after the running line and it is a bad injury as well.

“William Buick holding the horse, who is quickly attended… and that is a quite horrible postscript to the Chester Vase.

“Hidden Law is the winner of the Chester Vase but that is an awful incident just after the line and there is nothing much more you can say.

“A horrible end to the day – the horse is being attended to but it looks very serious indeed.”

While ITV host Leonna Mayor added: “It’s awful. So sad.”

Confirming the death and explaining how it happened, a crestfallen Appleby said: “He fractured his leg, unfortunately.

“He passed the line all OK and then when he’s crossed the road, he’s took a false step on it and he’s come down on it basically.

“It’s one of those very freak accidents. Unfortunately, we can only go on what we’ve seen and won’t see again for the future, it’s very disappointing.

“Most importantly, I feel so sorry for His Highness Sheikh Mohammed and Team Godolphin.

“To have a horse like him potentially coming through the ranks was exciting for everybody. It’s a sad day.

“I have to thank everybody here at the course, they’ve been very accommodating and were very speedy in what they’ve done.

“I feel sorry for Wayne, the groom, and all the staff back at Moulton Paddocks, who have done so much work with this horse.

“Will got up fine, which is the most important thing. He’s a bit shook from it because it’s not a nice thing to happen.”

Hidden Law had been sent off 9-4 for the team behind last weekend’s 2000 Guineas winner Notable Speech.

And it looked like they had their latest superstar on the their hands as the three-year-old colt flew home on the Roodee.

He finished three lengths ahead of runner-up 3-1 Agenda while third-place finisher, 7-4 fav Grosvenor Square, was a further seven-and-a-half lengths behind.

But the cameras had to cut away quickly as the extent of the horse’s injury to his leg became clear.

The trophy presentation was rightly cancelled as the packed stands and enclosures were left in silence.

ITV co-host Francesca Cumani said she heard a stunned Appleby say after seeing the horse go down: “He’ll get up won’t he?”

While her fellow presenter Ed Chamberlin added: “It absolutely broke your heart. To go from the elation of winning this and the 2000 Guineas, it’s heartbreaking.”

One devastated punter said it was ‘one of the worst incidents I had seen on the track’.

While there was an outpouring of support for connections after the gut-wrenching loss.

The scenes came just a day after the screens had to go up at Fakenham when a jockey became trapped under a horse.

There was a 45-minute delay to racing following an incident that saw rider Niall Houlihan stuck under mare Stop This Train.

Fortunately, thanks to the quick-thinking of those on-course, both were able to walk away from the freak occurrence.

Hidden Law was owned by Godolphin, the Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed’s enormous global racing and breeding operation.

He made his debut at Southwell in March where he went down a short-head to Cadogan Place before running out an electrifying winner of a Class 2 at Newmarket last month.

He would have vaulted to near-favouritism if not favourite for the Derby on June 1 after winning this key trial.