Newbury meeting goes off without a hitch

HIGH-CLASS racing rather than equine misfortune was able to return to the top of the agenda at Newbury as the rescheduled totesport Trophy meeting went by without a hitch yesterday.

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.