Sixth horse past the post wins
The drama unfolded in the gg.com Amateur Riders’ Handicap Chase.
First past the post was the 7-2 co-favourite Lord Broadway, trained by Malcolm Babbage, but the prize went to the 20-1 shot Stormhill Stag, from the Richard Lee stable.
Three fences in the home straight were omitted because of low sun, and as the field passed them by, confusion arose when the runners approached a hurdles wing in the middle of the track.
The hurdles themselves had been removed in advance of the next race, which was a bumper.
The leaders went the wrong side of the wing, which effectively meant they had all ran out.
Though Lord Broadway then went on to complete the three miles one furlong and land the spoils impressively under Damien Murphy, it was to no avail.
He was disqualified and the race went to Stormhill Stag, ridden by Stuart Morris. The only others to complete the correct course were Mayb-Mayb (40-1) and Sir Bob (13-2), who were awarded second and third places.
The disqualified horses included two of the 7-2 co-favourites, Lord Broadway and Better Thyne, the other, Regal River, having unseated his rider.
The original first five home were Lord Broadway, Swincombe, Better Thyne, Blazing Hills and Follow The Flow, who were all thrown out.
The jockeys were not fined or banned, and stipendiary steward Geoff Forster explained: “Bearing in mind the glare was so bad in the straight and they are amateurs, we gave the riders the benefit of the doubt. But we have had to abide by the rules.”
Winning trainer Lee said: “The rules were there for everyone and they were told not to go on the hurdles track. We were very lucky and we have won a race, but I hope we will go down the handicap!”
Owner Nick Shutts landed a gamble on a day of shocks.
The owner of Major Benefit took at least £20,000 out of the ring when the Karen Marks-trained five-year-old landed the two-mile six-furlong Mischon De Reya Novices’ Chase under 5lb claimer Andrew Tinkler.
The six-year-old, backed from 50-1 to 28-1 on course, beat Would You Believe by half a length to leave Shutts beaming.
“This has been the plan for a while,” he said. “I backed him at all rates from 33-1 to 20-1. I don’t know how much I won, but it would be in excess of twenty grand. This one stays on well, loves this trip and has always been a good horse.”
Meanwhile, Shane Kelly will sit out the busy Christmas and New Year period after being banned for seven days for dropping his hands at Southwell .
The jockey was found guilty after his ride on Cashel Mead in the Littlewoods Bet Direct Handicap.
The stewards found that he eased up on the John Spearing-trained 6-1 shot near the post, allowing Winning Pleasure (6-1) to snatch second place. The race was won by Blakeset (8-1).
After viewing a recording of the race and hearing Kelly’s evidence, the stewards found him to be in breach of Rule 156 (i) in that he failed to ride out for second place, and they suspended him.
Kelly will be out of action on December 26, 27, 29, 30 and 31, plus January 1-2.
