THE prestigious Cartier Awards took place in London on Tuesday evening, acknowledging all the stars of the Flat season this year, and history was created in the sprinter division as Quiet Reflection became the first three-year-old filly to lift the award.

Trained and part-owned by Karl Burke, in Middleham, she was successful twice at Group One level, taking the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot and the 32Red Sprint Cup at Haydock Park, both over six furlongs.

Niall O'Brien, of co-owners Ontoawinner, said: "To the BHA, all our owners, Karl Burke, Dougie Costello, Jordan Vaughan who leads up the horse, Karl Burke's team, all the management team at Ontoawinner – thank you for allowing us into your dream. And thank you for the dreams you have made for us."

Quiet Reflection beat off competition from Mecca's Angel, Limato and The Tin Man to win the prize, which left Burke "delighted" and "extremely proud" of the filly's achievements.

The horse is staying in training next season and Burke has revealed that she could make her next appearance in the Duke of York Stakes at York in May.

Looking ahead to the StanJames.com Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle on November 26, Alan King's improving hurdler Sceau Royal looks booked to take his place.

Since his defeat in the Triumph Hurdle and again at Aintree, he has returned this season looking a different animal.

An 11-length win at Cheltenham first time out and an impressive display in the Elite Hurdle at Wincanton has seen him shoot up the ratings.

"He was good (at Wincanton), he's gone up another 7lb so he's 156 now, so we're getting there," said King on Wednesday.

"The ground would have been as quick as he wanted, Daryl (Jacob) said he was just minding himself a little bit, but he's absolutely fine.

"If we're happy with him, he'll probably go to the Fighting Fifth. He won't mind an ease in the ground.

"We always thought a lot of him and I thought he had a great chance in the Triumph, but my horses weren't firing in March.

"He still needs to improve another 10-12lb to be a Champion Hurdle horse, but hopefully he can."

Nicky Henderson has two possibles, with last year's runner-up Top Notch, who has run in a novice chase this season, joined by Champion Hurdle runner-up My Tent Or Yours, winner at Newcastle in 2013.

Sad news broke last Sunday when it was reported that three-time Cheltenham Festival winner Vautour had died after a freak accident at Willie Mullins' yard.

"He broke a foreleg and has had to be put down," his trainer said on Sunday evening. "It's very tough to take for all of us."

Mullins does not know exactly how the injury happened. He explained: "Vautour was out in a paddock with another of our horses, Shaneshill – the two of them go out to the same paddock most days.

"We don't know what exactly happened – it must have been a freak accident – but when one of the girls went out to feed the horses, Vautour was found with a broken front leg and our vet had no option but to put him down."

The Rich Ricci-owned seven-year-old was the 8-1 second favourite to add the 2017 Timico Gold Cup to his Supreme (2014), JLT (2015) and Ryanair (2016) Festival successes.

The five-time Grade One winner was victorious on 10 of his 16 career starts and finished out of the first two only once, when falling at Aintree in the Grade One JLT Melling Chase.

He is a horse who really captured the racing public's heart with his dominant Cheltenham displays and was always spoken of in the most glowing terms by Mullins and his big-race partner Ruby Walsh.

Last season, Walsh said: "I love him. He has so much natural ability and is so straightforward. He's a horse we've always thought a hell of a lot of."