Last-fence falls in dramatic day at Hereford
Last-fence falls saw Cusp and Pop handed victory at the expense of Come Out Firing and Lamanver Homerun in successive races on a dramatic afternoon at Hereford.
Come Out Firing was about 20 lengths clear when unshipping Nick Scholfield at the final obstacle while Ruby Walsh was 10 lengths up on the Paul Nicholls-trained mare Lamanver Homerun when she tipped up.
Cusp (25-1) was handed an unlikely victory in the Severn Valley Catering Handicap Chase thanks to Come Out Firing's last-fence exit.
The latter got in too close and hit the top of the last obstacle, giving horse and rider no chance of survival.
That left Cusp to run out a lucky winner by five lengths in the hands of 7lb claiming amateur rider Paul Tolman from 66-1 shot Phoenix Eye.
"It was very lucky. The fences have to be jumped, that's what they are there for," said winning trainer Alison Thorpe.
"She'd had a wind operation and I thought today she would have probably needed that run and she was going to finish second I suppose.
"She's done nothing wrong and come back well after a break. She seemed to lose her form last year.
"I'm pleased for Paul - he's over the moon. He works for me in the yard. He deserves every success as he works hard. He had his first winner on Jim Bobs Girl in Newbury earlier in the season and this was his second winner under rules."
The demise of Lamanver Homerun in the Lindley Catering Novices' Chase let in Pop, ridden by Andrew Tinkler, to complete an 18½-1 double for trainer Henry Daly.
"It was extraordinary. He's been very consistent and has run some smashing races the last five or six times," said Daly.
"He was like that over hurdles and has been very consistent as well over a fence.
"The plan is to go to Cheltenham now. He's in the Jewson and the old Mildmay of Flete."
Pickamus (100-30) initiated the Daly double by opening his account in the digibet.co.uk "National Hunt" Maiden Hurdle.
The six-year-old was always prominent in the hands of Richard Johnson and hit the front two out to beat Mac Halen by two and a half lengths.
"He looked like he was due to win one," said Daly.
Johnson went on to complete a first and last race brace when steering home 15-8 favourite Giordano Bruno to a four-length victory in the Lindley Catering Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race for trainer Philip Hobbs.
Jack Sherwood, son of trainer Oliver, registered his first success under rules when getting his father's Millitant Man home by a nose and a head from Heezagrey and Quillygham in the Racing Post "Hands And Heels" Jumps Series Novices' Handicap Hurdle.
Brighton trainer Gary Moore struck with I Have Dreamed (11-1) in the "Jumprite" Handicap Hurdle to complete an across-the-card double after winning with Valentia Island at Plumpton.
