Exciting end to totesport Lanzarote Hurdle

There was a rousing finish to the £35,000 (€51,000) totesport Lanzarote Hurdle when three horses flashed across the line together and it was a nail-biting 10 minutes before a dead-heat was announced between Buck Whaley and Rayshan, with just a neck back to Torkinking.

The latter attempted to make all the running but was collared at the last by Buck Whaley, who was just getting the better of the argument when Rose Davidson pounced on Rayshan to share the spoils.

Jonjo O’Neill, trainer of Buck Whaley, the 5-2 favourite, thought his charge had been beaten.

He said: “I thought he’d nabbed us on the line but he’s run a hell of a race and that was his Champion Hurdle.”

On hearing the result, Rayshan’s trainer Nicky Richards said: “There’s nothing wrong with our rider is there? She got a great tune out of him. Graham Lee very kindly said the horse would suit her and he’s been proved spot on.

“This horse has run a good honest race. We thought he might just have needed it but he’d done plenty of work.

“I was stood at the wrong angle so I didn’t know what the result was but we’ll take a draw. He’s run a smashing race.”

Miss Davidson, who currently heads the lady amateur riders’ table over jumps, was enjoying by far and away her biggest success and was pleasantly surprised when she learned she had dead-heated.

“I thought the other horse had got it. I thought I was going to win but when we crossed the line I thought the other one’s head was in front,” she said.

“I could have done with being a bit handier but I got behind going down the hill but he stayed on strongly.

“That’s my eighth winner of the season and 15th altogether but this is my biggest thrill.”