Newbury meeting goes off without a hitch
The sport had been given rare exposure in the news pages on Saturday due to an incident in the paddock before the first race when two horses, Marching Song and Fenix Two, died from what emerged to have been accidental electrocution.
The inquest continues at the Berkshire track but the decision to restage one of Europe’s most valuable handicap hurdles and several key Cheltenham Festival trials was welcomed by the racing community.
Grand National-winning trainer Jonjo O’Neill, who was responsible for Fenix Two, harboured no ill feelings and said: “It’s good to be back – this is a great track and they do a good job.
“It was just a freak thing – very, very weird. Everyone has done their best and it’s onwards and upwards. They are not stupid people here and it’s nice to get on with it.”
His colleague Nicky Henderson’s horse Kid Cassidy was another to have been affected in the incident and was withdrawn at the start of the first race at the weekend. “It’s a bit surreal here today, it doesn’t feel like a big Saturday but these horses need to run and Cheltenham is just around the corner,” he said.
