Demon grounded
His absence cast a shadow over the race, which went to odds-on favourite Taranis, who just got the better of the determined Dickensbury Lad.
But trainer Henrietta Knight, who admitted to feeling guilty at withdrawing the horse, was adamant the correct decision had been taken.
“It takes five minutes to ruin a horse and years to get one up the ladder,” she told the crowd over the course’s public address system.
“I do feel awful for the people who have come here to see him today and I’m likely to be lynched as I leave, but please accept my reasons.
“I can assure you the horse is fine and I would invite you all over to the stables if you were allowed.
“But I am not prepared to risk him on ground that I consider to be good to firm or even quicker in places along the back straight.”
Knight said she had walked the course during the first race and shown the owners the section of the track about which she had her concerns before making the decision to withdraw the horse.
“He needs more experience before he goes to Cheltenham, but today wasn’t the day,” she said.
Knight’s husband, Terry Biddlecombe, pinpointed a race at Uttoxeter next Wednesday, the Black Tulip Novices’ Chase over two miles, as the next target.
